Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14
“Let us therefore approach fasting with a radiant face. Let us greet it with gladness in our souls. And let us not so much abstain from foods as refrain from sins. Let us not appear humble on the outside to men while being shown to be arrogant in our souls to the Master. Let us not give to the poor while acting rapacious with others. And let us not flatter God with words while destroying our brethren with our deeds. Let us always keep in mind the words of the Apostle: Seek peace with all, and sanctification, without which no one will see the Lord. Rather, keeping a fast from both foods and from all evil things, let us say to God: You have mercy on all, for you can do all things; and you overlook the sins of men that they might repent. For to you is due all glory, to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.”
Hesychios of Jerusalem (d. 450) in Fasting.
This represents the concluding statements in the treatise, the last words of Hesychios on fasting. And he seems to have saved the best for last.
This one sentence seems to sum up the discipline: “let us not so much abstain from foods as refrain from sins.” That’s what fasting aims to do.
Read this post again and ask the Holy Spirit if there are any disconnects in your life. Heres’s what Hesychios would say to each of us.
Do you appear humble yet have an arrogant heart?
Do you give to the poor and yet act rapacious toward others?
Do you flatter God with words and harm other with deeds?
Ponder these questions and if you sense any inconsistency in your life, take it to the Lord in confession and prayer. Fast from that habit or behavior, and ask the Spirit to help you chart a new course.
“Let us not so much abstain from foods as refrain from sins.”