Control What You Eat…Control What You Say

July 06, 2010 Length: 1:01

St. John Climacus on how fasting helps you control what you say.

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If you’re an Orthodox Christian, you know that we fast from meat, dairy and oil a lot. But have you ever wondered why we do this? Oh sure, we hear that it’s good for our souls, but how can avoiding a delicious pepperoni pizza help your spiritual life?

St. John Climacus links what we put into our mouths with what comes out of them. He says:

Stint your stomach and you will certainly lock your mouth, because the tongue is strengthened by an abundance of food. Struggle with all your might against the stomach and restrain it with all sobriety. If you labor a little, the Lord will also soon work with you.

So—controlling what you eat helps you control what you speak.

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