Fasting And The Devil

Ubi enim Dominus quadragesimae jejunium indefesso illo virtutis suae agressus est documento, mox diabolus occurrit pugnaturus dolis, quia jejunanti viribus obsistere non valebat. Quantum enim crapulationi deditis dominatur et ebriis, orante timet tantum, tantum refugit ille jejunos.dicente Domino Non ejicitur nisi in jejunio et oratione. Sed qua fraude diabolas tentare ausus sit, audiamus: Si Filius Dei es, dic ut lapides isti panes fiant. Audistis quid de jejuniis ipse sentiat, et judicet inimicus, Si Filius Dei es. Videtis quia jam non hominem, sed Dei Filium credit, quem liberum a ventris conspexerat servitute. Sensit, sensit diabolus jejunium cunctis virtutibus anteferri. Joannem viderat urbium delicias, squalentis erermi habitatione mutasse, mollitiem carnis vestis asperitate calcasse, agresti cibo mundi totam frenasse luxuriam, et, quod solum deitatis insigne est, hominibus dimisisse peccata. Et tamen non ei dixit Si Filius Dei es. At ubi Dominum vidit jugiter jejunantem. Proclamat : Si filius Dei es. Errat diabolus, qui contra Dominum astutue suae nequitias et argumenta jaculatur. Si Filius Dei es, dic ut lapides isti panes fiant. Quid est quod jejunante Christo Deitatis signa tota in sola panis promissione perquirit? Et quem Dei Filium continua jejunii significatione praesentit, esse Dei Filium de provisione panis de cura ventris desiderat approbare? Si Filius Dei es, dic ut lapides isti panes fiant. Quare non dixit: Si Filius Dei es, dic ut homines, aut angeli, aut aliquid aliud fiant, sed dic ut lapides isti panes fiant? Signum panis petit, qui signum jejunii pertimescit. Signum panis petit ut jejunii tremendum sibi refugiat signum. Panem malus ingerit consultor ut virtutem mutet ut propositum violet jejunantis. Sanctus Petrus Chrysologus, Sermo XIII, De jejunio et tentationibus Christi Source: Migne PL 52.227a-229a

When the Lord had entered on a fast of forty days, which is a timeless lesson of virtue, the devil came swiftly to oppose Him with his wiles, swiftly because he cannot prevail against those who have fasted. Indeed he easily rules over those who give themselves over to feasting and drinking; he fears only prayer, he flees only those who fast. But what deceit the devil dared attempt, you shall hear: 'If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.' You hear what he said and how he judged Him: 'If you are the son of God.' You see that already he does not deem Him a man but the Son of God, He whom he sees freed from the servitude of the stomach. The devil knows that fasting precedes every virtue. John saw the delights of the city and changed them for the trials of the desert; he trod down the softness of the flesh with adversity; with rustic food he put a bridle on the rankness of the world, and by what alone is the mark of sanctity he cleansed men of sin. And yet not to him did the devil say, 'If you are the Son of God.' But when he saw the Lord entering upon fasting he did declare, ' If you are the Son of God.' Then the devil erred, for with his all his cunning he demanded a wretched proof. ' If you are the Son of God, let these stones become bread.' Why would it be a sign of divinity for the fasting Christ to make bread? And would not the Son of God prefer the continuation of the fast, or would He rather approve the desire for the provision of bread for the care of the stomach? 'If you are the Son of God, speak that these stones become bread.' Why did the devil not say, ' If you are the Son of God, speak that you create men or angels or something else,' but rather 'Speak that these stones become bread?' He seeks bread who fears fasting. He seeks the sign of bread who would trembling flee the sign of fasting. An evil counsellor would heap up bread that he might suppress virtue, that he might destroy the very idea of fasting. Saint Peter Chrysologus, from Sermon 13, On Fasting and The Temptations of Christ.