Fasting

Yesterday was the first Sunday of the Dormition Fast. In a sermon on Romans 15:1-7 yesterday, Bishop Benjamin reminded us that we shouldn't be very impressed with our ability to fast; God's not, and, besides, the demons who never eat anything do it better than we do it. The whole effect of the sermon on me was to remind me that even though I try to do good I usually do evil. Pretty much, the only thing the fasts of the Orthodox Church teach me is that I really like food. Proverbs 23:2 is of no little concern to me.