My dear young friend,
Your question sounds as if you think these things to be of no use. Yes, the
Christian of my time is acquainted with fasting; the vigil is largely the part
of the priest and particularly the monk. If I may presume upon your ignorance, I
shall attempt to enlighten you.
It is not, as you surmise, that we consider the body to be evil. It is simply
of this world, and must be transformed to be eternal. Indeed, as God made the
body and pronounced it good, we should not see fit to disagree. But surely you
will also agree it can be a source of difficulty.
As such, it must be subdued. There are various methods for this; the fast is
one. Our general practice is to fast from sunrise to sunset. As we seldom eat
after sunset, this would become a complete day. For someone such as myself,
living on a manor where food is abundant, this is an exercise in discipline. But
my view is that life is to be lived, the body to be tamed, and all subject to
Christ.
The monk holds to a different view. In that view the body must be denied. Not
all are called to be monk or priest, though the occupation is held in high
honor. One reason is this: those who fast but once or twice a year know the
difficulty. We can imagine the trials of those who fast twice a week.
Can you not see that the difference is the calling of God? Some are called to
be priests and bishops, others monks. The others are called to be as I am. You
should therefore know that God, having called, will bless in accordance with his
call. Neither monk nor manor has the advantage, for there is no favoritism with
God.
Indeed, I would argue the matter makes no difference. For if you are a monk
and despise this life, considering it all vanity, then you set your eyes on the
things to come. But if you love this life, then what could please you more than
to have it continue forever? Either way, your eyes should be upon the prize:
eternal life. All else is insignificant.
So then, be you monk or merry, Christ is the goal. Some will share his joys;
some will share his afflictions some little way; others will share them to the
fullest. He is faithful and just; he will reward us all accordingly. In his
hands are the keys of hell and death. If you wish entrance into the holy city,
you must know the doorkeeper.
Regarding you in joy and sorrow, I remain,
Isaac the alchemist
