Close to God

This is a period when Christians, before the culmination of Easter, observe 50 days of Lent and fasting. In Sanskrit, fasting is referred to...

This is a period when Christians, before the culmination of Easter, observe 50 days of Lent and fasting. In Sanskrit, fasting is referred to as 8220;upavas8221;, meaning 8220;living near God8221;. Lent is a time for self-purification, illumination and theophication, which means to live in the image of God. Traditionally, Christian life is an ascetic life. An ascetic life is a disciplined one. And a disciplined life is a life of Lent. In the early days, before the fall of man into sin and evil ways, he lived with nature and for nature. Human beings in the early days were also vegetarians and that was why animals were not afraid of man. Originally, man lived a life that was close to God. And observing Lent is the experience of Paradise, close to God.

We read about perfect harmony between man, nature and God in Genesis Chapter 2, verse 19 of the Bible: 8220;The Lord formed from the soil every kind of animal and bird and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever he called them, that was their name.8221; Man was in fact the steward of nature. This ecological balance was disturbed when man disobeyed God and fell into sin. When we lead a life of Lent and disciplined living, we get strength to win over evil and sin. Moses, before he gave the Law to the people of Israel and received the Ten Commandments, fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and purified himself. Again, the Lord Jesus Christ, before He started His ministry, fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. The significance of fasting is that man lives not by bread alone. You have to eat to survive, but many people today live to eat. When you fast, that draws you closer to God, you move away from food and earthly things. In another sense, even though during Lent you give up earthly food, you are actually getting richer in spiritual nourishment. When you live near God, you have the urge to think about fellow beings and take care of their needs.

What is the message of Lent in today8217;s context? In the Bible, we read about the passage during the public ministry of Jesus, when He fed 5000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. The meagre food that was available with the people was redistributed for the large crowd. It also shows that when you live a life close to God, you have concerns for the needy and the hungry uppermost in your mind. Similarly, in today8217;s world of poverty and hunger, the haves should redistribute their wealth amongst the have-nots. When we do that, Lent assumes significance in each and everyone of our lives.

The writer is the vicar, St Mary8217;s Orthodox Cathedral, New Delhi