Prologue in Sermons: September 21

For the Edification of Those Who Hide Their Sins in Confession

September 21*

(Homily On Repentance)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Unfortunately, there are people who conceal their sins during confession. Some, out of false fear, others out of false shame, others out of pride, and still others, finally, out of sheer ignorance, conceal their iniquities during confession to a priest. Thus, not only do they fail to receive forgiveness for their sins, but they actually double their sins, for they lie before the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who receives their confession. In order to divert such individuals from the perilous habit of concealing sins in the future and to teach them to repent openly, sincerely, and without hypocrisy, we will point to a case of how Christians in ancient times sometimes confessed their sins.

In a certain city, there was a bishop who, at the devil's instigation, once fell into mortal sin. Bitterly repenting of his fall, the bishop, in order to obtain forgiveness, did the following: when a multitude of people had gathered in the church, he stepped into the center of the temple and openly confessed his sin before everyone. After this, considering himself, in deep humility, unworthy of the rank of bishop, he removed his omophorion, placed it on the altar, and then said to the people: "Forgive me, brethren, for now I can no longer be your bishop." Seeing the great humility and contrition of their shepherd, everyone in the church cried out with tears: "Let your sin fall upon us, Father, only do not deprive us of your shepherding!" And for a long, long time they begged the bishop to remain with them. Yielding, on the one hand, to the prayers of his flock, and on the other, wanting to somehow atone for his sin before God, the bishop finally exclaimed: “Well, if you absolutely want me to stay with you, then I will do so, but only on one condition: if you give me your word to unquestioningly fulfill what I now command you.”

Everyone had given their word. Then the bishop, ordering the church doors to be closed, said: "Know that no one among you will have a share in God's sight who does not trample me underfoot right now." And with these words, he prostrated himself on the ground. Everyone was horrified; but, not daring to break their word and fearing the bishop's rebuke, they began to pass over him. And what happened? When the last person in the church had stepped over, a voice from heaven said: "Because of his great humility, I have forgiven his sin!" Everyone heard this voice and glorified God.

Do you now see, those of you who conceal their sins in confession, how Christians repented in ancient times, and how, indeed, even now, every true Christian must always repent of them? A bishop, who should have been an example to his flock, having fallen as a man, at the devil's instigation, into mortal sin, nevertheless does not conceal this sin from his flock, subjects himself to extreme humiliation, considers himself before everyone the most grievous of sinners, and only then is miraculously forgiven and receives an unusually miraculous pardon from God. Should you, after this, for your own destruction, become liars before God? Instead of humility, when you especially need it, you indulge your pride and thereby again surrender yourself to the devil's power and forget who you are, Whose followers you are, and Whom you promised to serve with an oath at Baptism? Brethren, come to your senses, think about who you are, whom you are deceiving by hiding your sins in confession, whom you are pleasing with this concealment, and what destruction you are bringing upon your souls with your concealment?

Understand, then, that you are the children of God, redeemed by the most pure Blood of His Only Begotten Son. When you hide your sins in confession, you deceive this Only Begotten Son of God, who suffered terrible torments for the sake of your salvation, and you bring upon your souls eternal, bitter destruction, so bitter that it is called the second death. And, finally, by hiding your sins you please the enemy of your salvation, who, like a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour, and, of course, first of all devours liars, as the Savior Himself convinces us of this, saying of liars: "You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stands not in the truth when he speaks a lie, but speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of lies" (John 8:44). 

Therefore, brethren, let there never be any lies among you after this, especially not at confession. For you now know how such lies must be fatal to you. Repent, then, like David, who washed his bed every night; like the harlot, who washed the Lord's feet with her tears; and like Peter, who wept bitterly over his sin. And only then will the Lord surely forgive you and transform you from children of wrath into children of holiness and children of blessing.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

Notes:

* In the original text, there is no entry for September 21st. There this is the second entry for September 5th.