When Dr. Eben Alexander was in a coma for seven days, he went through a dramatic near-death experience.
In his book Proof of Heaven, he explains how he believes our
brains interact with our consciousnesses. Rather than the brain
producing consciousness, he suggests the brain functions like a filter
for our consciousness. As such, he says the brain is usually so busy
with all our mundane tasks that it has little time to contemplate the
spiritual dimension.
We are so caught up in the physical realm that we have little time or energy to concentrate on the spiritual.
Suddenly, I understood why the monastic tradition in every religion
insists on asceticism. To concentrate on the spiritual, the monks and
nuns strictly discipline their physical lives.
They narrow their lives down by staying in one place. They take vows of
poverty so they are unconcerned about the accumulation of wealth. They
take vows of obedience so they can be unworried about personal choices.
They discipline their bodies through fasting so their minds can open up
the realities of the spiritual realm.
This is the main reason why we are expected to fast: to discipline our
physical appetites in order to concentrate on the spiritual realm.
Rather than being satiated and dull as the result of too much food and
drink, fasting makes our senses sharper and we become more aware of the
spiritual realm.
We fast during Lent, but every Friday in the year is also a day of fasting.
Why keep Friday as a fast day?
Through this self-denial, we identify with the death of the Lord.
However, there are some other good reasons for keeping Friday as a fast
day. We function best when we are observing a regular routine.
We keep Sundays special through the celebration of Mass and making it a special day of relaxation.
Keeping Friday as a fast day balances the feast day of Sunday. Within
the cycle of the week, if we keep Friday as a fast day, something
mysterious starts to happen. As Sunday is a special day, Friday becomes a
serious day.
We remember the Lord’s death on Friday, and so Friday can become a day
when we work through the darker side of our lives, a day when we allow
the Holy Spirit to take us into the shadow areas and allow Christ’s
healing light to do its work.
There are other notable benefits to fasting. The first is that, through
fasting, we gain self-mastery. Limiting our intake of food means we are
more self-controlled in other areas of our lives.
You can’t take fasting seriously and be enslaved to other addictions
for long. Self-control in one area helps with self-control in other
excessive behaviors.
Fasting also brings real physical benefits. Fasting one day a week detoxifies the body and helps it re-adjust.
A day on just water or pure fruit or vegetable juice cleanses and
renews our whole system, and after just a few weeks, the body adapts.
The hunger pangs on Fridays disappear, and, on that day, the body kicks
into high gear — almost as if it is ready and enthusiastic about its
weekly detox.
As part of this benefit, our appetites are cleansed. Food and drink
taste better. Complex and rich foods do not appeal, and we appreciate
simple and whole foods more.
The third practical benefit of fasting is that we re-assess our
attachment to physical pleasures of all kinds. Not only does it help us
control other addictive or excessive behaviors, but an amazing side
effect is that it also changes our minds about other worldly aspects of
our lives.
I’ve known people overcome extreme materialism and vanity by regular
fasting. Others have overcome worries about money and status. Others
have overcome self-image obsessions or sexual obsessions, while others
have been able to take control of bad personal relationships,
insecurities and fears.
Fasting combined with prayer is a powerful force in our lives because,
through it, we combine physical discipline with spiritual discipline.
God made us to be physical-spiritual hybrids, and we combine the
spiritual and the physical — as we do in the sacraments — and in prayer
and fasting, it means we are operating at full capacity.
What’s the best way to fast? A full-day fast means nothing to eat from
Thursday after supper until Friday evening. It is difficult to begin
with a full-day fast. Better to break yourself in gradually. Start by
skipping lunch on Friday; then, after a week or two, skip breakfast as
well. Start at first on just bread and water.
After a few weeks of bread and water, shift to just water and fruit or
vegetable juice or light broth. Then, eventually, fast on just water for
that full day.
Remember, fasting is for those who are basically well and physically
fit. People with eating disorders or physical or emotional conditions
should only fast under supervision from their doctors.
Also, while fasting is healthy and good for you, it should be done in a
balanced and thoughtful way. It’s not a bad idea to read up on the
subject.
The New Life Fasting Guide by Helmutt Luetzner and The Beginner’s Guide to Fasting by Elmer Towns are good practical guides.
Put very simply, Jesus commands us to fast and pray. The saints take
fasting seriously, and the Church commands us to make fasting part of
our lives. Why not take up this discipline with a new intention?
The amazing thing you will discover is: Not only does it help you
physically, mentally and spiritually, but, eventually, it will bring you
added vigor and real spiritual joy.
Father Dwight Longenecker
is the parish priest of
Our Lady of the Rosary church in Greenville, South Carolina.
Connect to his popular blog, browse his many books and
be in touch with him at DwightLongenecker.com.(here)
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