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FR. TOM'S CORNER
Pursuing Spiritual Habits throughout Lent (March 2005)
Beloved of Holy Apostles,
I was perusing through Stephen Covey's
book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" and came across a quote from
Aristotle. He said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an
act, but a habit." The author suggested that our character is basically
comprised by the habits we keep. Covey said, "Sow a thought, reap an action;
sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character,
reap a life."
It is with this hope that I pray we enter this
sacred journey of lent. That we may reap a life centered in Christ! That we
may pursue habits found in our church that lead us to God's Kingdom. That we
may build up our character as children of God. That we may come to know God's
love and be inspired by Christ's power to respond to life's challenges with
the voice of boldness, compassion and understanding.
St. Paul tells
us in I Corinthians to make it our habit to earnestly aspire towards the
essential spiritual gifts of faith, hope and love. He clearly states that we
should make love our great desire, our great quest. And to reap these Holy
Gifts, it is imperative to develop the habit of prayer and fasting.
St.
John Chrysostom says "Prayer is a harbor in the storms of life, an anchor for
those who are storm-tossed, the treasure of the poor, the security of the
rich, the healing of the sick, the preservation of health. Prayer banishes
evil things, and preserves the good."
St. Theophane the
Recluse makes the comparison, "When fire is kindled, movement of air is
necessary to keep the flame alight and to strengthen it; in exactly the same
way, when the fire of grace is kindled in the heart, prayer is necessary, for
it acts as a kind of current of spiritual air in the heart. What is prayer? It
is the mind's ceaseless turning to the Lord in the heart, it is the continual
standing before God with the mind in the heart."
We must seek
and foster a relationship with Jesus as the Publican did coming to Him with
all his vulnerabilities asking for mercy and understanding. We need to realize
that we have drifted off on our own like the Prodigal son and make a U-turn
back to God, our ultimate father. We must become like sheep following our
Shepherd's voice to love.
Fasting is not about creating a "little
suffering" which is somehow pleasing to God, but is essential for spiritual
growth. According to St. Seraphim, fasting is an "indispensable means" of
gaining the fruit of the Holy Spirit in one's life. Jesus Himself taught that
some forms of evil cannot be conquered without it. When the Apostles failed to
heal a sick and suffering child, Christ explained that, "This kind (meaning
the devil) can come out only by prayer and fasting." (Matt. 12:21) Commenting
on this St. John Chrysostom said: "That these are like two wings that carry a
person to the heights of God."
As we focus on almsgiving,
fasting and prayer, may we become more vibrant and alive Orthodox Christians.
May we ask God to help us create the habit of becoming kind people who
generate good energy and sidestep the negative. May we ask God to help develop
our gifts of listening and under-standing, so we can have more loving
relationships. May we commit to participating fully in lenten services and the
sacramental life of the Church. May we ask the Lord to grant us peace and
understanding as we grow to know and love Him more deeply through this
upcoming Lenten season.
Fr. Tom
"Imitate the prodigal son: leave the city that
starves you.
Come and beseech Him and you will behold the glory of God.
Your face shall be enlightened and you will rejoice in the sweetness of
paradise. Glory to the Lord and Lover of mankind Who saves us!"
St. Ephraim the Syrian
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