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GAINING
THROUGH GIVING UP -
MPK Kutty |
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Fasting is a common practice in most
religions and is intended to reinforce the spirit by
bringing the senses under control. Material comforts
which cater to the desires of the body have always been
recognized as impediments to spiritual growth. Fasting,
chastity, simple food and control of sleep and
refraining from any kind of exuberance are considered
ways of pleasing God.
But it is still possible to go through all these forms
without really achieving a state of mind that is termed
spiritual. If such denials do not result in a
transformation of the heart, it becomes a vain exercise.
The God of the Bible speaks harshly against such
hypocrisy. “Is not this kind of fasting that I have
chosen: to loosen the chains of injustice and untie the
cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break
every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you
see the naked, to clothe him, and not turn away from
your flesh and blood?”
Fasting, besides cleansing the body, must result in the
cleansing of the spirit. For this, the natural
inclinations of the heart must be subdued by virtuous
attitudes: such as pride by modesty, hypocrisy by
simplicity and greed by contentment.
Now there are toxins in the body which bring in
sickness; more to be feared are the toxins which clog
the spirit of man and render him ineffective in the
quest for those goals pursued through fasting and
prayer. What are these?
One of them is selfishness. Those who determine not to
put self to death will never see the will of God
fulfilled in their lives. Those who ought to be light
must necessarily burn and become less and less.
Another element is bitterness. Bitterness imprisons
life; love releases it. Bitterness paralyzes life; love
empowers it. Bitterness sours life; love sweetens it.
Bitterness sickens life; love heals it. Bitterness
blinds life; love anoints its eyes. The roots of
bitterness poison relationships, drains the mind and
pollutes every thing we attempt to do.
Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of
resentment and the handcuffs of hate. It is a power that
breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of
selfishness. How tough a task!
A habit that betrays spiritual persons is judgmental
spirit; the habit of complaining and grumbling Give up
complaining. This habit should be replaced by a sense of
gratitude: gratitude to God and fellow beings. We are to
thank God in all circumstances.
Give up worrying for this also betrays our trust in God.
When we are in the here and now we become more aware of
all the good things that surround us. We can see
potential opportunities. “Difficult times have helped me
to understand better than before, how infinitely rich
and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many
things that one goes worrying about are of no importance
whatsoever,” writes an ancient scribe and we say amen.
The man of faith will usually be an optimist .He knows
that the secret of health for both body and mind is not
to mourn for the past, worry about the future or
anticipate troubles but to live in the present moment
wisely trusting in the goodness of God.
In the pursuit of faith, we are also assailed by all
kinds of fears. We need to give up the spirit of fear,
for God has not given us ‘the spirit of fear, but of
power and of love and a sound mind.” Nobody can fight
properly and boldly for the faith if he clings to a fear
of losing possessions, reputation and other earthly
pleasures.
Carnality is the natural, in-born tendency toward sin
and the satisfaction of our personal desires. From its
very nature, carnality is in direct conflict with the
spiritual goal of fasting. The intense spiritual zeal
can often be diluted within the believer by a gradual
propensity toward worldliness due to an occupation with
immediate tasks and what some call “the tyranny of the
urgent.”
An unhallowed life is a life without an awareness of God
or total ignorance of what lifts our existence from an
animal to a divine level. In its thoughts, aims,
pleasures and standards, it is completely earthbound.
Finally, fasting is intended to bring about a holiness
in every part of life, a heavenly wisdom in all our
actions, not conforming to the spirit and temper of the
world but turning all enjoyments into means of devotion…
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This page
is updated on April 1, 2009 |
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PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY
10 YEARS CELEBRATION
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