Yesterday was the Gospel about the rich man asking Jesus how we must have eternal life, and with him going away sad because he could not let go of his possessions. Currently we are at the Nativity Fast, and the Gospel should remind us about what we're doing--to let go of our passions. Fasting is one way of letting go of our passions. When we fast, along with prayer, we focus our attention to God and do not think of what should be enjoyable for us. Rather, we must enjoy the very presence of God Himself. Of course, the best fast is fasting of the heart--we fast not only from food--meat and dairy products--but we fast as well from our passions, our sins and inclinations to sin. And that is the more important fast. We then try to reach that goal, which is Christ. Through orthopraxis we go from passion to dispassion until we realize what our Lord has said: "Be perfect, just as my heavenly Father is perfect." By praxis then we slowly attain theosis, becoming like God by being perfect like Him. It is not impossible; in the Gospel yesterday, Jesus said to Peter, "Nothing is impossible with God." It was hard for Peter to grasp if one could attain salvation, but Jesus made it clear it is possible with His help. So we turn to our Lord for help in this time as we prepare for His birth, and slowly we move away from our passions. If we fall, we ask God for His help, and He will not abandon us but will raise us up. And as often as we say, "Lord have mercy", so often too will He show us His mercy, if with a sincere heart we approach Him and ask for it.
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