When we conceal our sins from our confessor
“And with that He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven’ (John 20:22-23)”.
Some time ago I wrote an article on confession, and elicited a number of comments that I feel need to be addressed in more detail. A number of people privately shared that they were hesitant to confess certain sins for fear of being embarrassed before their priest. One woman said she couldn’t handle the idea that a man would hear the details of her sinful actions, and wondered what the priest would think of her after having heard her confession. (It should be noted that a spiritual mother can also hear the confessions of her daughters, with the priest simply pronouncing the absolution, with the spiritual mother’s blessing, as is often done in monasteries of women.)
I have been a monk for over thirty years, and I must say that I can not think of a sin I have not heard before. Not one person has shared anything that was shocking to me, for the human condition is shared by all. What I have experienced, however, is the joy at hearing a good confession. Seeing the burden of guilt and shame lifted, and the tears of true repentance, is a joyful thing. The fear of shame before the priest has kept many from receiving the lifting of the burden of sin, and the banishment of guilt, and all for nothing. The fear of being embarrassed keeps many from making a good confession.
No priest thinks less of a penitent, for all priests rejoice when beholding the lifting of the burden of sin and shame in the Mystery of Confession. Like the penitent, the priest witnesses the mercy of Christ, and the priest, as a sinner himself, is lifted up, for he, too, is in need of Christ’s mercy and forgiveness.
Our lives become full of passions and sinful habits because we fail to do battle against the very sins that are in need of being confessed. Our wounds and sores are inflamed, because we refuse to apply any remedy to them. The woman at the well beheld the mercy of Christ, and we, too, stand at the well before the Lord, when we stand before the Gospel book, and the Cross, with the priest as the witness before Christ, Who is quick to forgive.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photos: The cell of Saint John the Wonderworker, in Saint Tikhon’s House, San Francisco, CA.
Monday August 17, 2015 / August 4, 2015
12th Week after Pentecost. Tone two.
Dormition (Theotokos) Fast. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Holy Seven Youths (the “Seven Sleepers”) of Ephesus: Maximilian, Jamblicus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Exacustodian (Constantine) and Antoninus (250 & 5th c.).
New Hieromartyr Nicholas (Prozgrov) (1930).
New Hieromartyr Michael, Martyrs Simeon and Demetrius (1937)
Martyr Eudocia of Persia (362).
Martyr Eleutherius of Constantinople (4th c.).
New Hieromartyr Cosmas of Aitolia, Equal to the Apostles (1779) (Greek).
“Kazan-Penza” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Martyr Ia and 9,000 with her in Persia (Greek).
Martyr Thathuil (Greek).
Scripture Readings
2 Corinthians 5:10-15
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
Be Reconciled to God
12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
Mark 1:9-15
John Baptizes Jesus
9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately, coming up from[a] the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Satan Tempts Jesus
12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.
Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom[b] of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Thank you, once again, for an important message, conveyed in a concise way, from the heart of Jesus, through one of his priests, who clearly finds much joy in service to our Lord by serving other people.
As a priest (though much less experienced than Fr. Tryphon), I concur. I feel neither a morbid curiosity regarding the sins and passions of others nor a revulsion. As a sinner myself, I feel only deep compassion for the penitent, man or woman. Hearing confessions is a “bearing one another’s burdens” ministry: I hear it, process it with the penitent, and together we give it to our loving and compassionate Christ. Then, I try to administer the medicine of the Church if any penance is to be suggested. It takes great courage to open the depths of one’s heart to another, and it is an honor to be trusted with such depths. I try desperately always to walk very gently into the depths of another person’s soul. And when I leave the confessional experience, I leave all of it there, refusing to look at my parishioners differently afterward. It is a grace that God gives the priest to see and love each person after confession no matter what the content of the confession.
You posted just the right post with just the right pictures on just the right day.
Bless Father. I agree with Daniel. Coming from Protestantism to Holy Orthodoxy we are hard pressed to confess but we must learn. Our priest is one you and Fr. Sean above describe – but I struggle. Pray for us to have courage!