“We mustn’t look at Lent as a ban. Fasting is one of the voluntary components of spiritual practice, and keeping the fast is an expression of our obedience to the Lord and His holy Church…the Church reminds us that Lent is a time for correcting our mistakes and infirmities, for overcoming our shortcomings, for spiritual rehabilitation, a time for marching towards God, rather than withdrawing from Him. Bodily abstinence and prayer help us in this.”
(Metropolitan Onuphry Berezovsky) on Lent)