The wise Solomon says that Christ “is inside those who do not hurt Him.” Those who “tamper with” God are those who doubt, hesitate, -or even worse- resist His omnipotence and His omniscience.
Our soul should not resist and say, “Why did God do this like that, while the other differently? Couldn’t He do otherwise?”… These “whys and wherefores” are torturing man very much and they create, what people call, “complexes”; for example, “why am I too tall?” or “very short?”. This does not leave from inside us.
And, although one prays and holds vigils, the opposite happens. And he suffers and resents without result.
While with Christ, with His grace, everything is gone. There is this “something” in the background: “why”. But the grace of God upstages man and, even though complex is the root, there grows a rosebush with beautiful roses, and the more it is watered with faith, love, patience and humiliation, the more evil ceases to have power; it ceases to exist. It does not disappear but withers.
As long as the rosebush is not watered, it withers, drips, disappears, and the thorn springs immediately.
It is not, however, just the reaction and “why and wherefores,” which show that we are make fun of God. We tamper with God when we ask for something from Him, but our life is far from God. We tamper with Him when we ask for something, but our life is not in accordance with His will, that is, it is against God; we experience stress and anguish on one side and we ask Him for favours on the other.
You cannot become a saint by chasing evil. Leave evil aside. Look towards Christ and that will save you. Love, worshiping Christ, without being able to express it in any way, is what makes a man holy… And the man tries to do exercises, to do such things, and to weary himself for the love of God.
No ascetic became a saint without exercise. No one was able to reach spirituality without being exercised. Exercises need to be done. Exercise is repentance, vigil, etc. but not when done by force. Everything should be done with joy. It is not the penances we will do, nor the prayers; it is to give, it is the love for Christ and for spirituality.
Many who do this, not for God but for exercise, for physical benefit. But spiritual people do it for mental benefit, for God.
The body benefits a lot and does not get sick. Many goods come that way.
Among exercise, penance, vigils and other hardships, is fasting. “Thick belly does not give birth to intelligent minds.”
They say the sheep eats the earth’s grasses and is so quiet… While the dog, the cat and all these carnivores are all wild animals. Meat is bad for humans. Greens, fruits, etc. are good for humans. Good health is not ensured by eating, nor by the good living conditions. It is ensured by the holy life, the life of Christ.
But to do so you must have faith. Otherwise you get the munchies. Fasting is also a matter of faith. It does not harm you, when you digest your food well.
When you have the divine love, you can fast with pleasure and everything seems easy; otherwise everything seems like a great challenge. Those who gave their hearts to Christ and prayed with love, dominated and defeated gluttony and the lack of self-control.
*The article was originally published in Greek in ikivotos.gr
