Dear brothers and sisters, residents of the blessed land of Kazakhstan!
The sacred days of the Nativity Fast are approaching—a time of preparation for celebrating the feast of peace and God’s love for humankind, the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
This coming fast has its unique character—it is filled with the joy of the upcoming radiant feast and a deep sense of gratitude to the Savior, who came to us to grant us “great and precious promises” and to make us “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). During each Nativity Fast, we remember humanity’s centuries-long anticipation of the Messiah-Christ and undertake, along with the wise men, a spiritual journey to the manger in Bethlehem. In the darkness of the Old Testament era, the prophet Isaiah expressed the peoples’ longing, crying out to God: “Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down!” (Isaiah 64:1). This yearning for God’s closeness, His mercy, and the desire to be near Him must remain alive in each of us today. The Lord Himself instructs us: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
Through the coming of Christ into the world, humanity received the opportunity to attain “grace and truth” (John 1:17). Grace is the divine power granted by the Creator for salvation. It is through this power that sin is overcome and every virtue is multiplied. Without grace, evil cannot be conquered, and thus, we cannot overcome the darkness that clouds our lives. Without God’s grace, we cannot change ourselves for the better or transform the world around us. St. Seraphim of Sarov defined the goal of a Christian’s life as the acquisition of the grace of the Holy Spirit. This great ascetic pointed to the means by which this divine power is drawn into human hearts: “Fasting, vigil, prayer, almsgiving, and every good deed done for Christ’s sake.”
The holy fathers and teachers of Orthodoxy, who ascended from earth to heaven through their lives and labors, left us numerous teachings and advice on how to properly observe the fast. One of the key ascetic principles is offered by St. Basil the Great: “Along with bodily fasting, there must be spiritual fasting. Bodily fasting means the stomach abstains from food and drink. Spiritual fasting means the soul refrains from evil thoughts, deeds, and words.” From the Book of Genesis, we know that humanity’s fall into sin occurred through lack of self-restraint. The first people broke God’s commandment because they were not temperate. Although God provided everything necessary for life, He also gave a commandment to cultivate their will and strengthen their relationship with Him. However, they chose their own desires over obedience.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill has said: “If we analyze any sin, its cause is always a lack of self-restraint.” The fast prescribed by the Church, which combines spiritual and bodily disciplines, opens the path to acquiring grace. It enables us to manage our thoughts, emotions, and actions in accordance with God’s commandments. Reflecting on the power of sin within human nature, the Apostle Paul laments: “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice” (Romans 7:19). From Scripture, we know that if sin arises from lack of self-restraint, liberation from sin begins with temperance. The Savior warns: “He who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10). If one cannot control their physical desires or moderate their material cravings, how can they stand against “the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12)? How can they attain “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17)?
Thus, the Church calls us to take small, humble steps for the sake of our immortal souls: refraining from certain foods, avoiding excess, steering clear of frivolous entertainment, idle talk, and gossip, and limiting time wasted on television or the internet. These limitations do not make us poorer or less joyful; rather, they open the path of repentance—the way back to the Heavenly Father. “Choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19), the Lord exhorts us through the voice of an ancient prophet. The fast’s ascetic effort helps us make the only true choice—the choice of eternal blessedness with God.
The days ahead are wonderful, and it is so important not to miss the opportunities they present. It is vital to break free from daily cares and reflect on ourselves, our loved ones, our lives, and our aspirations from the Gospel perspective that Christ revealed to us. Participation in the Divine Liturgy and regular communion of the Holy Mysteries during the fast is visible testimony to a life with God. Confession, fervent prayer, fasting, and care for others—all spiritual endeavors are sealed by the Sacrament of the Eucharist and participation in the Body and Blood of Christ.
In reverence, let us ponder the great mystery: In the Eucharist, Christ is not symbolically but truly present. He is the very Lord and Savior who was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, who died on the Cross for our salvation, and who rose from the dead. How can we not strive to be near Him? How can we not desire to partake of this “living bread which came down from heaven” (John 6:51)? St. John Chrysostom teaches that Christ “calls Himself the Bread of Life because our life, both present and future, depends on Him.”
Let us approach this great Sacrament with trembling, and as often as possible, partake of the Holy Eucharist with contrite and humble hearts (Psalm 51:17).
I congratulate all of you, dear brothers and sisters, on the beginning of the Nativity Fast. I wish that in these holy days, through the intercession of the Mother of God and the prayers of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Kazakhstan, we may glorify God in our bodies and souls, which belong to Him (1 Corinthians 6:20).
Invoking God’s blessing,
METROPOLITAN ALEXANDER OF ASTANA AND KAZAKHSTAN
HEAD OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF KAZAKHSTAN
Main
Login or register, to write a comment!
Your comment has been successfully added and is currently being reviewed by the site administration