True Christian Fasting: Freedom from Sin, Gossip, and Pride

About this sermon

What does true Christian fasting really mean? In this Orthodox homily, we conclude a three-part reflection on the pillars of the Christian life: prayer, almsgiving, and fasting, with a powerful focus on fasting as medicine for the soul, as taught by St. John Chrysostom. Too often, fasting is reduced to food alone. But the Church reminds us that the true fast is a fast from sin, especially the sins of gossip, slander, pride, anger, and careless speech—sins that are especially tempting during the holiday season. Drawing from the Gospel of the woman bent over for 18 years, this homily reveals how sin and the passions spiritually cripple us, and how Christ offers healing, freedom, and restoration when we cooperate with His grace. 📖 Topics include: Why fasting is not optional for Christians St. John Chrysostom on fasting as spiritual medicine How gossip and speaking ill of others break the fast The connection between pride, judgment, and sinful speech Practical steps to fast with the mouth, mind, and heart How fasting leads to humility, peace, and freedom in Christ As we journey toward Bethlehem during the Nativity Fast, we are invited to lay aside the heavy burdens of sin and stand upright before God—ready to glorify Him not only at Christmas, but at His glorious return. ☦️ “Let the mouth also fast from disgraceful speech.” — St. John Chrysostom 00:00 Opening Prayer 00:24 Christ Is in Our Midst 00:37 The Three Pillars of the Christian Life 00:59 Why Fasting Is Not Optional 01:26 Fasting Is More Than Food 01:36 St. John Chrysostom: Fasting as Medicine 02:01 Fasting from Sinful Practices 02:24 Gossip and Speaking Ill of Others 03:02 Why Gossip Is So Common 03:41 How Gossip Breaks the Fast 04:01 Pride: The Root of Judgment 04:20 Fasting as Healing for the Soul 04:45 The Bent Woman in Today’s Gospel 05:20 Sin as Spiritual Crippling 05:36 Christ Offers Freedom and Healing 06:05 Why Fasting Works 06:31 The True Fast According to St. John Chrysostom 07:21 The Damage Caused by Sinful Speech 07:30 Three Practical Rules for the Tongue 07:47 Applying This to Daily Life 08:18 The Peace of Silence 08:40 Guarding Thoughts Before Words 09:16 How to Respond When Others Gossip 09:47 Cleaning Up Our Language 10:21 The Connection Between Food and Speech 10:33 Leaving Sin Behind on the Way to Bethlehem 10:49 Standing Upright Before God 11:12 Final Doxology For more please visit https://www.youtube.com/@stjohnmelkite & remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest. 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.com for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 SpiritusTV - https://spiritustv.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium 🔴 Truth Social - @SensusFidelium ▶ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #OrthodoxChristianity #TrueFasting #StJohnChrysostom #NativityFast #Orthodox

Topics

• Repentance
• Pride
• Self-Control
• Fasting
• Overcoming Obstacles