Obstacles to #Repentance
👉Question: My life has been polluted by sins and I wanted to repent. But I was very afraid of falling into the same sin again, so I thought before I repent, I should try to overcome the sin that challenges me. If I win, then I will repent and cleanse myself of the past. What do you advise me about this?
Answer: Among the ways of salvation that Satan fights against, there is no better than repentance, because repentance destroys all the edifices of sin that the enemy, the devil, has built to destroy the lives of Christians, making it not exist by God's grace. Because of this, he tries to prevent us from repentance, and even if we were to repent, he will never stop doing his best to prevent it from happening sooner than later. Among the obstacles to repentance that the enemy, the devil, uses to keep people in sin or prolong the time for repentance:
1. Creating obstacles: They can be sudden challenges or opportunities, but they disable us from repenting by creating obstacles.
2. To convince the sinner that he is better by comparing himself with those who have sinned more than him and that he does not need repentance, but holiness should not be compared to a sinful life.
3. Being guided by environmental influences due to the weakness of the flesh. Saint Paul said, "Do not be conformed to this world." Romans 12:2 A small fish swims in a stormy sea. A Christian should withstand such temptations and live a spiritual life.
5. Despair: Before we fall into sin, Satan makes us sin by thinking of God's goodness and forgiveness, and after we sin, he reminds us of God's judgment and cruelty and discourages us from repenting.
6. By making the repentant think that he is not a sinner, that he is justified by self-admiration. A man cannot change what he thinks is good unless he believes that his own life is corrupted by sin. If there is no spiritual change in his life, he will not think about repentance. He does not repent, so he does not examine himself.
7. Not having a God-fearing heart: According to Saint Isaac, if there is no God-fearing, there is no repentance. Sometimes, some people take out "GOD-fearing" from their hearts in excuse of love. At this time, they become careless about their penitential life and fall into sin. Because of sin, they lose the love of God that leads them to repentance.
In general, it is not appropriate to live as a slave of sin or to fight without repenting but fighting with and winning the devil, falling and getting up in repentance. Joshua son of Sirak told his son that if he wanted to serve God, he should prepare himself for the challenges he would face. Satan is jealous of our spiritual work when it comes to our fasting and repentance. He fights to prevent us from accepting the value of our labor. He will prepare every trap so that we will fall. He tells us that you will not leave us until we surrender. But as St. Peter told us, "Your partner the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Knowing that your brothers in the world have received all that suffering, resist him steadfastly in faith (1 Peter 5:89), we should remember this advice and fight, not give up or run away in fear."
In the work that a person does, while controlling his body and humbly contributing the good, he is given the repentance which he discards the evil work day by day with. "Not even heaven is clean before God, let alone a man who drinks sin like water." Job 15:15.
About our father #Abune #Aregawi
Oh beloved in Christ, children of the holy Orthodox Church, today we gather in spirit and truth to delve into the life of a great saint, Abune Aregawi, whose ascetic life and divine struggles transcend time and space, nourishing our souls and kindling the flame of divine love within our hearts.
Abune Aregawi, a spiritual luminary of the 5th century, was born in the imperial city of Rome, under the protective wings of his parents, Isaac, a king of noble stature, and Adhana, a queen of pious heart. His birth name was Zemikael, a name that foretold his celestial journey towards the heavenly kingdom.
From his youth, Zemikael exhibited an insatiable hunger for divine wisdom, dedicating himself to the study of the Holy Scriptures and the lives of the saints. At the tender age of 14, the world laid before him its earthly treasures and royal betrothals, yet his heart yearned not for temporal glory but for the eternal. He renounced the world and entered the sacred grounds of the Daunas monastery in Tsyre, where he was clothed in the angelic habit and embraced monastic life with fervor.
In the divine providence of God, Abba Pakoumis, the abbot of the monastery, discerned the heavenly calling upon Zemikael and ordained him a monk, setting him on the path of ascetic struggle and divine contemplation.
His zeal for Christ was contagious, and soon, seven of his kin, ignited by the same celestial fire, joined him in monastic life. Together, they embarked on a journey of ascetic labor, emulating the good shepherd who tends to his flock with unwavering care and love.
However, the news of Zemikael’s renunciation reached the ears of his mother, Queen Adhana, whose heart was pierced with both sorrow and awe. She journeyed to see her son, now Abune Aregawi, a name that signifies his spiritual ascent. Though he initially resisted her visit, her maternal plea struck a chord within him. She implored, "My son, what is the world that you despised in your childhood of use to me?” Overwhelmed by her faith, Abune Aregawi welcomed her into the monastic fold, placing her under the care of the holy nuns.
In due course, the call of the divine led Abune Aregawi and his brethren to the sacred lands of Ethiopia, a nation steadfast in faith and untainted by apostasy. Carried by the wings of Saint Michael the Archangel, they set foot in Axum, fulfilling the divine prophecy and enriching the spiritual tapestry of the Ethiopian Church.
Yet, the solitude of the desert called out to Abune Aregawi, urging him to seek the hermit’s life and immerse himself in uninterrupted contemplation. He parted ways with his brethren, each finding solace in solitary prayer and divine labor.
Abune Aregawi, guided by divine grace, reached the summit of Debre Damo, a sanctuary suspended between heaven and earth. Here, he battled the forces of darkness, his faith unwavering, his heart aflame with divine love. The devil, envious of his sanctity, sought to tempt him, yet Abune Aregawi, armed with the sword of faith, vanquished the foe, turning the beast into a vessel of divine ascent.
For years, he subsisted on heavenly manna, his body sustained by divine grace, his soul aflame with unceasing prayer. He became a beacon of sanctity, drawing thousands to the monastic life, guiding them on the path of salvation.
As his earthly sojourn neared its end, the Lord appeared to him, bestowing upon him the crown of righteousness and assuring him of his heavenly inheritance. Abune Aregawi, having fought the good fight, having kept the faith, entrusted his flock to worthy successors and entered into the joy of his Master.
Dear brethren in Christ, the life of Abune Aregawi stands as a testament to the transformative power of divine grace and the unfathomable depths of ascetic struggle. He renounced the world, yet gained the kingdom of heaven. He embraced solitude, yet became a father to thousands. He battled the forces of darkness, yet shone with the uncreated light.