Prayer 002: By fasting and prayer

With the Nativity Fast now approaching, the topic of fasting is on our minds once again. In a previous post, we discussed some of the practical aspects of fasting, especially the difference between fasting as abstinence and fasting as a diet. In this post, I would like to explore the idea that fasting without prayer is akin to prostrations without prayer - both may be very beneficial to the physical health but are quite distinct from the spiritual life.

Much of what is often meant by prayer in traditional Christian confessions, at least in the first approximation, are recitations of various formulaic texts: morning and evening prayers, daily rules, canons, akathists, "Lord-have-mercies," the Jesus Prayer, the Lord’s Prayer, etc. Moreover, it has become accepted that more is better as the faithful are often encouraged to "pray more,” especially during fasting periods. I must admit that I have never experienced "a gracious warmth which spread through my whole breast" from reciting anything 1000 or 3000 or 10000 times, as did the author of The Way of the Pilgrim, and perhaps should not speak about such mystical matters, but I have not yet encountered a coherent and satisfactory explanation of the following verse in the Gospel of Matthew in light of the ubiquitous exhortations to "pray more":

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (Matt 6:7)