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Dear Parish Faithful, This morning, I am sharing with the parish a poem written by our own parishioner, Spencer Settles. Here is a fine example of creatively working with an ancient text from one of our great Church Fathers - St. John Chrysostom. We receive exhortations galore all through the Fast - clothing those exhortations in the flesh and blood of our embodied existence is the real challenge!
You fast, you say? We say of Lent, “It’s fasting season.” It’s true, we limit drink and food. But lest we miss the greater reason And stoke within ourselves a mood And countenance of deprivation, Let’s hear Chrysostom’s exhortation: You fast, you say? Well, prove it then! Give alms to help the poor of men. Your love from foes are you restraining? No, reconcile before you part! And let not envy grip your heart If friends you see in honor gaining. And comely women, pass them by – Let fasting be for mouth and eye! For ear and feet and hands – all members That of the body do comprise The one who fasts each day remembers, And each one, training, says “Be wise! My hands: from greed and from loose living Now flee. Be rather busy giving! My feet: run not to what is wrong But aim for that for which I long. My eyes: seek not what stirs the passions – Those things that sparkle, awe, and bind The one who looks without a mind That loves not much the worldly fashions.” For if our fast is thus declared, Our hearts for Pascha come prepared! |
