• Home
  • About PI
  • Sermon Resources
    • Biblical Resources
    • Theology
    • Apologetics
    • About Preaching
  • Sermons
    • Historical American Sermons
    • Patristic Sermons
      • Festal Sermons
        • Nativity of Theotokos
        • Holy Cross
        • Entrance of Theotokos
        • Christmas
        • Theophany
        • Meeting of Christ
        • Annunciation
        • Palm Sunday
        • Ascension
        • Pentecost
        • Transfiguration
        • Dormition of Theotokos
      • Lenten Sermons
        • Triumph of Orthodoxy
        • St. Gregory Palamas
        • Veneration of Cross
        • St. John Climacus
        • St. Mary of Egypt
      • Paschal Sermons
  • Webmaster Resources
  • Preachers Institute Store
  • Bible Challenges

PREACHERS INSTITUTE

You are here: Home / Sermon Resources / To Those Who Conceal Their Sins At Confession

November 9, 2012 By Fr. John A. Peck

To Those Who Conceal Their Sins At Confession

In regards of the Mystery of Confession, the Church gives the following definition: who conceals their sins at confession, those not only receive no forgiveness, but double their sins instead.

“If you conceal anything from me”, says the priest before the confession, “you shall have the greater sin”.

You would think that such a fearsome definition of the church should have moved all the Christians to be sincere at confession, and approach this Sacrament not like a Pharisees, but like a penitent thief. However we still often see that some, because of false shame, others, because of little faith, third, because of devil’s influence, – in other words, many do not stop to conceal their sins and therefore, leave confession without feeling of peace in their consciousness, without Divine remittance of sins. How to move those to sincerity? How to take away their false shame, little faith and pride? How to make them truly repent? Let us remember the below words of St.John Chrysostom. Grant, o Lord, that those, who conceal their sins at confession, realize how wrong they are and change their ways.

This is what the great Orthodox teacher says:

“Confess your sins, for by confession the wounds of soul are getting healed. Just like a bodily wound can not be healed by our doctor, unless we tell him where the pain is, – the wound, that is concealed, causes more and more harm to a man, and death at the end. Same with sins, concealed at confession, bring death to the soul and body and joy to the devil. Wholehearted confession of sins is a great good, but concealing of sins is a true joy for Satan. He makes both simple man and lawyer to conceal their sins, by saying that they can confess their sins directly to God. But you, Christian, do not accept this devil thought and hurry to confess your sins to receive forgiveness both in this life and future.”

So, do you hear what St.John is saying? He is saying that everyone, who conceals his sins at confession, brings death to both his body and soul, that he pleases Satan by this, and that, at last, it is the same Satan, who teaches them to conceal their sins. So? Would you still continue lying to God at confession? Think about, whose will you will be doing? Who will you be bringing the joy to? And where to, at last, will you be preparing your souls? You will be doing the will of the worst enemy-Satan, bringing joy to him, and preparing your souls to the abyss of hell. Isn’t is horrifying? This is truly so, brethren. Therefore, be afraid to conceal your sins, open your spiritual wounds at confession without hiding anything, and confess your sins exactly how you feel them in your soul. See yourself, at confession, as if standing before the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who is invisibly receiving your confession, and, at last, do not be ashamed at all, neither be afraid to open anything before your spiritual father. Then, if you so confess your sins, truthful and righteous is the Lord, Who will remit your sins and cleanse your soul. Amen.

RELATED  Orthodox Worship As A School Of Theology: Part Seven

 

Source

Filed Under: Sermon Resources Tagged With: confession

About Fr. John A. Peck

Director of the Preachers Institute, priest in the Orthodox Church in America, award-winning graphic designer and media consultant, and non-profit administrator.
Blog; Facebook;Twitter

Preachers Institute

Recent Posts

  • Is God a Fool?
  • It’s Time to Abuse the Devil
  • St. Mark of Ephesus and the Council of Florence
  • The Filioque in Brief
  • A Pagan Records the Slaughter of the Innocents by Herod
  • The Books Will Be Opened
  • The Apostle John and the First Letter of Clement to the Corinthians
  • Nothing Strikes Fear in the Person Whose Hope is in God
  • On the Plague
  • Marriage Perfection to Rival the Holiest of Monks
  • The Compilers of the Philokalia Answer the Opponents of Frequent Communion
  • The “Smoking Gun” of Non-Chalcedonian Christianity
  • Salvation of Christians Outside the Orthodox Church
  • On Moral Heresy
  • Septuagint Quotes in the New Testament

Preachers Institute Archives

Preachers Institute

The Online Orthodox Christian Homiletics Resource
Fr. John A. Peck, director
Phoenix, AZ

Find what you’re looking for

The Deep Dark Archives

Vocations in Orthodoxy

Good Guys Wear Blackwww.rolex-replica.me
rolex kopior

swiss replica watches store

replica rolex
watchessaleoutlet.com
best replica watch site 2021

Copyright © 2023 John A. Peck · Designed by John A. Peck