Question: "Well, you can tell the Great Fast has started"????

[gurneyhalleck1]

I have been hearing this phrase in TAW and on other online sources now for years when people get contentious, argumentative, upset, full of debate, fiery, snarky, whatever you want to call it....

People say, "well, you can tell the Great Fast has begun!"

Please don't judge me too harshly for asking, but, "HUH?"

Isn't a fast supposed to put us in a place of calm, introspection, meditation, focus, charity, an uplifted place where we empty ourselves of ego and contentiousness? Isn't the Fast about more than food, but also a change in us wherein we have GREATER patience?

I don't understand the phrase and readily admit I'm still a newbie. I'm not talking about anyone in particular in this thread, just a statement I've heard for a long time.

I feel great temptation during Great Lent, so perhaps this sentiment is related to people's temptations and failures being channeled into the forum? I don't know. Forgive me for asking if I seem judgmental. I'm truly just curious. I'm still learning myself.

 

[ArmyMatt]

you are right that is where we are supposed to be, but since we are undertaking the Great Fast, the devil comes after us. new catechumens being recieved and the Church getting ready to celebrate the devils defeat often puts him in a more sour mood than he usually is in. so he comes after us.

 

[Anhelyna]

Do you know Gurney - I think we all feel much the same.

Somehow during the Fast things seem to get under our skin far more.

Elsewhere a n00b appeared and has really upset the applecart telling us that all his philosophical and classical education allows him to tell us what we should know - snag is that every time he opens his mouth he shows how little he does know ! I finally flipped and told him that as it was the Fast [ about which, of course, he knows everything ] perhaps he would do better to post less and read more .

I can see my GodPapa's index finger rising to wag at me - Lord help me !

I really need to take care not to irritate him this week - lack of food makes him very volatile

It's the Fast - these things irritate us far more than usual.

 

[GregConstantine]

We need to take responsibility for our own actions, and not use the devil the Fast as an excuse.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Well, Greg, I was kind of thinking the same thing. But I don't want to judge. I'm under tons of temptation. Frankly, since day one of my chrismation, I constantly have second-guessed myself. I regularly feel like a guest in my parish and like an observer and like I'm outside my skin even though I AM chrismated and a parishioner. I have a lot of trouble "getting into it" so to speak. I get tired of the drive, find some things odd and not so helpful, get tired of the ethnic stuff, and certain people drive me cookoo.

But I keep plugging along. I often miss the old days before I was chrismated, I won't lie.

But these fasts make me even more tempted.....

However, in these times, behaviorally we're called to a higher plane. We're supposed to let our best nature shine in Christ during this time. And if fasts only bring out the worst in us, theoretically we should then GET RID of Great Lent! But we don't get rid of it, thankfully, because it's not meant to bring out our inner grump and warmonger, it's meant to bring out the saintly potential we all have.

I totally understand the sentiment of temptation and how hard this is, but I do think you're dead on. Maybe I'm wrong here? Wouldn't be the first time! LOL!

We need to take responsibility for our own actions, and not use the devil the Fast as an excuse.

 

[GregConstantine]

you are 100% correct guerneyhallack1. Also, how we should be during Lent, is how we should be all year, not just during Lent.

 

[prodromos]

Just wait till the food threads start!

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

food threads?

Just wait till the food threads start!

 

[Anhelyna]

Ah yes - I know what's meant there

the food threads - they will certainly come .

In fact there's a bottle of whisky sitting looking at me at present - and I could really do with a little of its contents !!

 

[Mary of Bethany]

It's why the Fast is a "struggle". It's hard. it exposes our weaknesses and our dependence upon the things of this earth. I'm having a very rough day and feeling extremely hungry because of the Fast right now. So yes, I'm irritable.

But that's also what brings me to prayer, to "Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner, for I am so weak!".

Mary

 

[prodromos]

food threads?

It has almost become a TAW tradition that whenever we enter a period of fasting, someone will start a thread on all kinds of yummy foods that we are currently taking a break from. It's always a bit of fun, nothing to take seriously
As Anhelyna has already mentioned, alcohol usually finds its way in there as well.

 

[buzuxi02]

you are right that is where we are supposed to be, but since we are undertaking the Great Fast, the devil comes after us. .

Quite true. That's how you know the Great Fast has begun, because we are at each others throats.
The demons rage during this season and they are bolder. And they are bolder simply because this season now precedes carnivals and mardi gras and rio dijaneiro, the demons are energized more now than just a few centuries ago and they don't like withdrawal.

 

[ArmyMatt]

food threads?

you know in like 3 or 4 weeks you will be able to walk outside, sniff the air, and smell the Burger King that is 5 miles away (even if you don't like BK).

 

[Anhelyna]

And then everyone will be complaining of stomach upsets on a Certain Specific Day