Great Lent consists of 55 days of fasting. This includes one week for preparation of the Great Lent, 40 days where our Lord Jesus Christ fasted in the wilderness and one week for the Passion week before Easter Sunday, the day Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead.

What can we learn from the Great Lent?

Then He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
In Great Lent, we realize how weak we are because, it is very hard to just give up one meal or something delicious. We find it so difficult and even impossible at times. But, this is the turning point, we shouldn't rely on our strength but on Jesus' strength alone. Jesus was tempted in every way but He could overcome every temptation and finally He triumphed over death. This is how great His power is and His power can never be underestimated. If we ask Him just one millionth of His unlimited strength, He would not hesitate to give it to us in order to overcome our temptations, our lusts, our selfishness, our worldly thoughts. Let us keep on asking Jesus on a daily bases, help me O Lord to overcome my weakness, help me O Lord to fast, help me O Lord to be pleasing in your eyes.

Saint Shenouda, the Archmandrite was one day talking to a man who had troubles dealing with lusts. The man didn't know how to get rid of his lusts. St. Shenouda told him to try to cut down on the quantity of eating and talking, because eating too much triggers lusts in our body. He explained how eating should be just to satisfy hunger. The man felt it was too hard, but St. Shenouda encouraged him that it doesn't mean not eating at all but just on cutting down on the quantity of eating. He asked the question, how much does he take care of his body compared to how much does he take care of his soul? The outcomes rests on the amount of how much he cares about his body or his soul more.

Saint Thomas, the Hermit said:

"Supress your body before it enslaves you."
"The first lust is eating."
"If you manage to supress it, you'll conquer lusts and the struggle against satan will be easy"
"Mortification or asceticism without praying, is like going to battle with a mighty army without taking any weapons. Praying is a powerful weapon. It fortifies you from the inside and keeps away eternal attacks."

Let us ask the prayers of St. Shenouda and Saint Thomas, for their intercessions will help usto fast, pray and walk closely with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Glory be to God forever. Amen.