St. Anthony on fasting "I die daily."

I began reading The Life of Antony and the Letter to Marcellinus this weekend. I mention this because Athanasius' book expresses an approach to asceticism I find quite approachable and gives succor to those of us now approaching the fasting time or who are already fasting. It is also worth mentioning that this book (whether the Paulist Press version or another) is not a difficult read. You can read through it with periodic stops to meditate or highlight, but it's not like reading On the Incarnation for example.

Two ideas seem central to his teachings: vigilance and the newness of today.

On vigilance:
More and more then he mortified the body and kept it under subjection, so that he would not, after conquering some challenges, trip up in others.

There is a reoccurring idea of posting guard at all avenues the devil might attack you from. He searches for a weak spot. Orthodoxwiki states, "Orthodox Christians are expected to pay closer attention to their private prayers and to say more of them more often. The Fathers have referred to fasting without prayer as 'the fast of the demons' since the demons do not eat according to their incorporeal nature, but neither do they pray." This struck me as a similar idea. In this time of preparation we are given grace to persevere, but are also advised by tradition that no single aspect (fasting, prayer, almsgiving) of the Fast can be maintained to the healthy exclusion of the other.

On the newness of today:

He observed that in saying today he was not counting the time passed, but as one always establishing a beginning, he endeavored each day to present himself as the sort of person ready to appear before God - that is, pure of heart and prepared to obey his will, and no other.

And in order that we not become negligent, it is good to carefully consider the Apostle's statement: I die daily. For if we live as people dying daily, we will not commit sin. The point of the saying is this: As we rise daily, let us suppose that we shall not survive till evening, and again, as we prepare for sleep, let us consider that we shall not awaken.

What a refreshing approach. It's "One day at a time." with more purpose than "getting through the day." Each day a new challenge. Each day a new opportunity. Should I look at the Fast in totality - counting the times I fall down - or should I act prayerfully today and see only today? As he says later:

If we think this way, and in this way live - daily - we will not sin, nor will we crave anything, nor bear a grudge against anyone, nor will we lay up treasures on earth, but as people who anticipate dying each day we shall be free of possessions, and we shall forgive all things to all people.


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