Immersing oneself in ”Holy Waters” is also part of Christian tradition of purification.
Rite of Baptism that ushers in the season of Easter includes actually or symbolically an immersion into Holy Water. Jesus was baptized by John in waters of the River Jordan. In doing so, however; he gave it a meaning. Baptism is an ‘immersion’ into the Paschal Mystery, which is celebrated at Easter.
Lent is characterized by the discipline of fasting, which is shared with other religions. Fasting is considered a gateway to purification. Early Desert Fathers in Christian Tradition recognized what other religious traditions confirm: gluttony is the first of eight principal faults. It is etymologically derived from a word, which means ‘to swallow’. Greed stems from desire that Buddhists as the root of suffering. Gluttony, on the other hand, is satisfaction of that desire. Greed lies in imagination; we become obsessed with our possessions, consuming food and drinks in excess. Fasting is an antidote to desire.
Gluttons in the third circle of hell. Modifying our food habits leads us to practice moderation in all areas to become better aware of the Self.
For St. John Climacus, gluttony is the principal passion; a passion is a good appetite taken to excess. In our culture, which is permeated by excessive consumption, overindulgence is a way of harming ourselves. Excess dulls our capacity to taste true joy. Often, it is the beginning of an addiction, which drags the mind down into depression. What happens when delights of an overindulged appetite turn sour, when it no longer pleases us? For the Desert Fathers, gluttony is the first and easiest escape from reality. All addiction is an escape; we seek refuge in addiction.
Overindulgence in one area lowers our immunity in others, weakening our ability to face disappointments and losses. We overindulge because we are afraid of emptiness. The self falsely identifies with pain, crisis, disappointment, from which we want to escape. We fear extinction of ego, loss of self. Fear of facing ourselves is so overwhelming that we prefer to endure a continuing rupture with ourselves, frightened of emptiness and enter what Laurence Freeman calls inferno of Self-division. Christian discipleship is precisely to call to leave self behind.
Fasting enables us to discover that we have often spent our money on what is not truly bread and our earnings on what fails to satisfy. The season of Lent invites us to refine our tastes. We abstain from food and drink because we have tasted something better. Through moderation, we achieve a sense of balance. No longer at the mercy of desires, we increasingly allow the Self withing us to emerge, the Self that gives meaning to our lives.
