The reading time spent this week has been from Saint Athanasius of Alexandria who wrote on the life of Saint Anthony the Great.
Among the wonderful things taught in this account of the life of the Saint (and there are many) is an apology for our being faithful to labor in the Lord.
A servant would not dare to say, 'Because I worked yesterday, I will not work today,' and considering the past will do no work in the future. But as it is written in the Gospel, daily we must show the same readiness to please the Master. So let us daily abide firm in our discipline, knowing that if we are careless for a single day the Lord will not pardon us for the sake of the past, but will be angered over our neglect. Judas, because of one night, destroyed his previous labor.
It's human nature to desire a respite, a break from labors. But our call in following the Lord is to do as He showed by His example. People were constantly pressing Him to grant their pleas for His healing, His forgiveness, His compassion. The Lord had to sneak off to be alone even to pray!
As we journey through the Fast, it's natural for all of us to "want a break". If we're doing it right, it takes a toll on us. But this is a good thing! We come to a point where our stomachs complain. Wonderful! For when we listen to that complaint, we are reminded of our spiritual need for food, to read, to pray, to give alms, to attend services, to draw our spirits closer to our Source of the Heavenly Food!
We need to remember our Lord's own words to us. He said, "If you do the things I command you, henceforth I do not call you servants, but friends." (John 14:15) In our struggles with the Fast, in our persistence in serving our Lord, not waning from our efforts, not seeking that respite, not even acknowledging any fatigue, we begin to follow His commandments in this way, moving away from being servants, moving toward becoming children of God, heirs of the Kingdom.
Keep the faith. Persevere in the Fast!
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