“Whoever confesses his sin is greater than one who raises the dead”: this is a well-known saying of Saint Isaac the Syrian (7th century), who adds, “He is like someone passing from death to life.” This confession happens first within a person, between himself and God, but also, and especially, before the priest and before the one we have wronged. “He came to himself,” says the prodigal son, “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you” (Luke 15:17-18).
This transformation, this repentance (metanoia), takes place, as we said, first in the heart and the soul, and then calls for an admission of sin, expressed openly through confession in the Church. This process is called a sacrament, a “mystery,” a word that originally means a hidden action brought about by human will and God’s grace: a cooperation between man and God, known in Orthodox doctrine as “synergy,” that is, working together.
Saint John of Damascus, in his famous work “The Orthodox Faith,” defines repentance as the soul’s turning from the devil to God, and says that it only happens through pain and tears. So there is contrition in the person, and great humility. “The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 50 [51]:17).
* * *
In the past, some people used to receive Holy Communion on Holy Thursday outside the Divine Liturgy, from the priest’s hands, after a quick confession. Here is a story that shows contrition and humility in confession: once, on that day, a well-known village notable came to a priest who could not read but was very devout. He asked to receive Communion after the priest absolved him of his sins, because he was in a hurry. The simple priest asked him to prostrate himself on the ground and say, “Forgive me, O God, your sinful servant.” The man was annoyed and refused to prostrate himself, claiming he had never bowed or knelt to anyone in his whole life, and said, “Who demands that, Father?!” The simple priest, very surprised, brought the priest’s service book and showed him the line: “The penitent prostrates himself and prays to receive absolution of his sins from the priest.” Then the man gave in and prostrated himself, saying, “I leave it to God!” He received absolution from the priest and took Communion. Afterwards he finally stood up and said, “I thank God, and I thank you, Father, because I humbled myself, received absolution of my sins and received the Holy Mysteries.”
* * *
Last but not least, the spiritual fathers point out that one of the most important things to do on one’s deathbed, before leaving this world and while we are still conscious, is to confess before death and to repent of every sin committed in one’s life. The priest who accompanies the sick person at the end of life must remember this before giving them Holy Communion. It helps them to complete their life.
Father Gerard Abi Saab
