THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Thus, anyone who endeavors to reflect the beauty of the saints' virtues can expect to receive similar rewards. This pursuit will enable him to conquer his adversaries and triumph over the malice of his foes with comparative ease. Even when shameful desires assail his spirit like an inferno, he will prevail, fortified by divine strength. Just as the Angel who descended into the furnace alongside Ananias and his companions subdued the flames, enabling them to endure without harm, so too will Christ, through the Holy Spirit, enter our minds and hearts to control the fierce blaze of sinful passions. He will transform us into victors against the schemes of the adversary, granting us citizenship in heaven and expanding our path to all that is virtuous.
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The Scriptures affirm that God provides such aid as a reward for fasting and a result of righteous actions. In the book of Ezra, it is stated: “And I promise that fast to the young men before the Lord our God, that we may call upon him for a good way for us, and for our children and cattle that are with us. We have asked the tsar to ask for men on foot and on horseback and guides for the sake of protecting us from the enemy. We will say to the tsar, ‘The power of our Lord will be with those who seek Him for all guidance. And again we prayed to the Lord our God about these things, and we received mercy” (2 Ezra 8:49-53). Here, Ezra indicates that through fasting, the Jews sought a secure path, divine assistance, and unyielding protection from Him who is able to save. By fasting, they requested the grace of God, who facilitates and bestows blessings generously. Therefore, if we engage in fasting, He will likewise rescue and liberate us from all forms of evil, guiding us toward every good deed. He will effortlessly soften the seemingly insurmountable and render the difficult passable and manageable.