All of these punishments on earth are different from the eternal punishment. The eternal punishment is eliminated by repentance, but the earthly punishment remains intact. So the mother who does not bring up her son properly repents and her sins are forgiven, but her son remains as a bitterness of heart to her on earth. The student who does not study and fails can repent and the Lord will forgive him for his negligence, but this does not bring back a year of his life lost on earth in vain. The person for whom since causes disease can be forgiven his sin by repentance, but the disease remains with him as an earthly punishment as a natural result of sin.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, The Life of Repentance and Purity
Category: FORGIVENESS & REPENTANCE
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You may ask, “Is it possible for me to live the rest of my life away from sin, even though my heart loves it? If I were to repent of it, I would return to it.” The error in despair is that the devil makes us think that we will live in repentance with the same heart that loves sin. On the contrary, the Lord will give you a new heart (Ezekiel 36.26). He will remove from you the love of sin, and you will not think about returning to it. On the contrary, God will make you hate sin in your repentance and be disgusted by it. Your present feelings will change.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, The Life of Repentance and Purity -
Repentance is a complete change in a person’s life, not a temporary emotion. It is a real and fundamental change felt by the person, as well as by everyone that deals with him. His thoughts change, as well as his principles and values, his outlook on life and his manner of speech, his habits and dealings with people, and most importantly, his dealings with God. The person also changes from within, with a heart refusing the once-beloved sins. The love of God enters his heart and he becomes spiritually revived, in a state of spiritual ecstasy.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, The Life of Repentance and Purity -
This reminds us of the saying of Saint Bishoy: “I do not remember that the devil has tempted me into the same sin twice.” It is possible that the first sin was as a result of ignorance, negligence, weakness, or lack of awareness of the tricks of the devil, or lack of cautiousness. But after repentance and awakening, there is strictness in living and a caution of sin. The person who discards sin and then returns to it—therefore sometimes leaving it, and sometimes returning—has not yet repented. This is only an attempt toward repentance. Every time the sinner arises from his sin, sin drags him lower.
Repentance is a cry from the conscience and a revolt against the past. It is repulsion from sin, great regret, and rejection of the old state with embarrassment and shame.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, The Life of Repentance and Purity -
When we see a person who has committed vicious sins and crimes escaping with impunity, we react with indignation. We want to see that person called to account and punished, and feel angry that this has not happened. But at such moments we should reflect on our own actions; indeed we should turn that sense of indignation inward against ourselves. Each of us should ask: “How many sins have I committed against others, when I have escaped with impunity?” There are, no doubt, many examples in all our cases. Recognizing this fact will cause our anger against others to melt away. More importantly, it will make us turn to God and ask forgiveness of these sins. Yet there is perhaps a difference between our own sins and the sins which we notice in others. Our own sins are probably quite subtle and inconspicuous, whereas the sins of others are obvious and gross. Should we, therefore, regard our own sins as less important or die? On the contrary, we should realize that subtle sins are frequently the most harmful. Obvious sins, such as robber and violence, are easily recognized, and so can often be guarded against by physical means. The more subtle sins, such as lying and slander and power-mongering are frequently hard to spot, and so difficult to prevent.
On Living Simply
St. John Chrysostom -
Do you cherish any resentment or hatred towards another, to whom you refuse to be reconciled?
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Is there some injustice which you refuse to forgive, some charge which you refuse to pay, some wrong which you refuse to confess?
Are you allowing something yourself which you would be the first to condemn in others, but which you argue may be permitted in your own case, because of certain reasons with which you attempt to smother the remonstrances of conscience?
The Gift of Suffering
by F.B. Meyer -
When Abba Poemen heard of his repose, he said:
Blessed are you, O Abba Arsenius, for you wept over yourself in this world. For he who does not weep for himself in this world must weep for ever in the next. He may weep here voluntarily, or there because of the punishments [which he will receive], but it is impossible for a man to escape weeping either here or there.Abba Arsenius – The Tutor of the Emperor’s Sons
Bishop Macarius -
The gentle person is always cheerful, and never frowns at anyone.
His smile is sweet and loved by everyone, and his features are nice giving comfort to whoever looks at him. In his calmness he cannot rebuke or blame, nor can he act with excitedness or harshness, nor can he change the tone of his voice when rebuking someone.
Even if mistreated, the gentle will not grumble, get bored, or complain.
He often finds excuses for others, justifies their conduct, and thinks no evil. He never speaks about the offences against him, as if nothing has happened. He does not even feel sad within, and if he is provoked his anger will soon clear away and not turn into malice.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit
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How will I be able to live all my life away from sin when my heart loves it? If I repent, I will return to it!
The false notion by which Satan instills despair into your heart is that you will live in repentance with the same heart that loves sin! No, not at all, for God “will give you a new heart” (Ez.36:26), and He will uproot the love of sin from you. Then you will never consider returning to sin, but on the contrary, God will cause you in your repentance, to hate and abhor sin. Your present feelings will change.
Even if I repent, my thoughts will be stained with former images
Do not fear. In repentance, God will cleanse your mind and you will attain the “renewing of your mind” of which the Apostle spoke in his epistle to the Romans (Rom. 12:2). How numerous were the bad images in the memory of Augustine and in the memory of Mary of Egypt! But the Lord wiped them away, that the mind might be sanctified by His love.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Before the Just Judge
