Our Struggle for Repentance
Ask for repentance in your prayer and nothing else
By Abbot Tryphon, September 5, 2020
The first step in becoming truly repentant is found in a heartfelt contrition before God for our sins. Saint Paul tells us that we must “Pray without ceasing (Thessalonians 5:17)”, and the Church Fathers saw this as the basis for the use of the Jesus Prayer – “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner”. This is truly the prayer of repentance.
We sin, if not in deed, then in thought, and this is proof of our need to repent continuously. It is because of our sinful nature that we have been given the Mystery of Confession, where we are reunited to the Church. This reunification is required of us because sin separates us from the Church, and it is through confession that we are returned to the Church.
It is through confession that we are received back into Eucharistic communion, and returned to constant prayerful union with God, which is expressed in the Jesus Prayer, the prayer of the publican.
This life has been given to us with one purpose, that we might be deified, and be united with God. This was God’s purpose from the very beginning, but in our fallen state our brokenness keeps us separated from God. In our brokenness, our darkened nous cannot see clearly, and it is in repentance that our nous is made whole, and clears the way for the complete union with Christ.
Saint Paisios of Mount Athos, counsels us to “Ask for repentance in your prayer and nothing else, neither for divine lights, nor miracles, nor prophecies, nor spiritual gifts—nothing but repentance. Repentance will bring you humility, humility will bring you the Grace of God, and God will have in His Grace everything you need for your salvation, or anything you might need to help another soul.
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
~Abbot Tryphon, The Morning Offering, https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/morningoffering/2020/09/our-struggle-for-repentance-2/.
Ask for Repentance
We must pray for help in our struggle for repentance
By Abbot Tryphon, January 31, 2020
In our struggle on the path to God, repentance must be the central theme. Only in repentance will we find the true meaning of life, for only in repentance can one enter into communion with God. This life has been given to us for one purpose, that we might be deified, and be united with God, as was His purpose from the very beginning. In our fallen state, our brokenness keeps us separated from God, for our darkened nous cannot see clearly. Repentance changes our nous, clearing the way for complete union with Christ, and making us whole.
“Ask for repentance in your prayer and nothing else, neither for divine lights, nor miracles, nor prophecies, nor spiritual gifts—nothing but repentance. Repentance will bring you humility, humility will bring you the Grace of God, and God will have in His Grace everything you need for your salvation, or anything you might need to help another soul (Saint Paisios of Mount Athos).”
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
~Abbot Tryphon, The Morning Offering, https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/morningoffering/2020/01/ask-for-repentance-4/.
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