With fasting I gladden my hope in Thee, O my Lord Who Comest.
Fasting hastens my preparation for Thy coming, the sole expectation of my days and nights.
Fasting makes my body thin, so that what remains I may more easily illumine with the spirit.
Waiting for Thee, I wish not to feed on blood, nor to take life. That even the animals might feel the joy of my waiting.
But truly, abstinence from food will not save me. Though I fed on sand from the lake, Thou wouldst not come to me, unless fasting entered deeper into my soul.
I have learned through my prayer that bodily fasting is more a symbol of true fasting, very useful for a beginner in hope in Thee, yet very burdensome for him who stops at it alone.
Therefore I brought fasting into my soul as well, to cleanse her of many insolent suitors and prepare her, like a maiden, for Thee.
And I brought fasting into my mind, to drive out of it daydreams of worldly things and to tear down all the castles in the air built of those daydreams.
That my mind might be emptied of the world and ready to receive Thy Wisdom.
And I brought fasting into my heart, that by it I might put to death all passions and worldly attachments.
That heavenly peace might reign ineffably over my heart, when Thy tempestuous Spirit comes upon it.
And I imposed fasting on my tongue, that it might unlearn useless tales and speak with restraint only those words that clear the way for Thy coming.
And I laid fasting upon my cares, that it might blow them all away before it as the wind blows away the fog. That they might not stand like murky fog between me and Thee, and turn my gaze back toward the world.
And fasting brought into my soul humility before the uncreated and the created worlds, and meekness toward men and things. And it poured into me a courage I knew not while I was armed with every worldly weapon.
What was my hope without fasting but merely another's tale, passing from mouth to mouth until it reached my mouth as well?
False fasting accompanies false hope, just as no fasting accompanies hopelessness.
But as wheel follows wheel, so true fasting follows true hope.
Help me to fast joyfully and to hope joyfully, O my Most Joyful Feast, Thou who drawest near to me with a sunlit smile.