What Are You Reading?

 

We've just come through Great and Holy Lent and have celebrated Pascha, the resurrection of our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ from the dead.  It is common among Orthodox Christians to add to their reading list during the fast as part of the increased spiritual training in which we endeavor to engage and through which we hope to grow in fervent love for God and our Neighbor. It is a good thing.

But...(You knew that was coming) Like so many other things, we must use balance and sobriety when we embark on such a task, and we must have our priorities in order.

So what should I read?

"Spiritual reading" is ok, but what you absolutely cannot do without is the Scriptures and the prayers. So if you're looking for something to read, read the Gospels and the Psalms. Then add Proverbs. Then add the Epistles, then the Prophets. Read the Gospel every day. We pray "Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me," "give me understanding," and "enlighten me with Your statutes." We need to be reading those statutes all the time in order for that to happen.

The demons rejoice when anything distracts us from the Gospel and Prayer, whether it be fatigue, illness, TV or even spiritual books. They will even use "spiritual gifts" to persuade you that you are blessed and holy in order to achieve your distraction. St Nicetas, Bishop of Novgorod is an example. He thought he could live as a solitary and ignored the counsel of his abbot. He began to hear a voice praying with him and "the lord" spoke to him and "angels" appeared to him to pray in his place, instructing him to read books and teach others instead of praying himself. He did it, and he always saw the angel praying while he busied himself with other things. People were amazed at his wisdom and gifts. The fathers of the monastery discovered that, while St. Nicetas could quote the Old Testament from memory (tho he had never read it), he had developed an aversion to the New Testament. By the prayers of the fathers, Nicetas was delivered from his delusion, his "miracles" ended, and he was later given genuine sanctity.

That's a spectacular example, but it doesn't have to happen with such outward public glitter. You can privately experience heightened "religious feelings" or a sense enlightenment. Or, you could spend a lot of time reading spiritual works and just be too tired to say your prayer rule or read the Gospel for the day. The last is perhaps the most subtle and heinous derailment of the spiritual life.

So if you want to read more, that's great. It's certainly better than watching TV. (If you want to read heavier books like the ones mentioned above, maybe talk to your priest first.) But remember balance and sobriety. If you want to read 10 pages or 10 minutes of a spiritual work, read at least 10 pages or 10 minutes of the Gospels, Psalms, and other Scripture, and ALWAYS leave time for your prayers. Your prayer rule is not the last resort, not something I'll do "if I have time." It is essential, more necessary than a meal or a chore. If you don't have a set prayer rule, talk to your priest. If you do have a set prayer rule, talk to your priest about it occasionally anyway so that it's always appropriate for you. You don't keep training wheels on a bike forever. Conversely, every ride is not a sprint or marathon. Times and seasons and conditions change. Your priest will help you.

So read the Gospel every day and say your prayers every day. If you have time for something additional, then add it in as a lower priority item.