Turn and Return: Willingness and Obedience

"If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land" (Isaiah 1:19).

MISSION

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." -- Acts 2:38

A first path of repentance is the condemnation of your own sins: be the first to admit your sins and you will be justified. For this reason, too, the prophet wrote: I said: I will accuse myself of my sins to the Lord and you forgave the weakness of my heart. Therefore, you too should condemn your own sins; that will be enough reason for the Lord to forgive you, for a man who condemns his own sins is slower to commit them again. Rouse your conscience to accuse you within your own house, lest it become your accuser before the judgment seat of the Lord. -- St. John Chrysostom

A third path of repentance consists of prayer that is fervent, careful and comes from the heart.

A fourth path of repentance is almsgiving, whose power is great and far-reaching.

A fifth way, moreover, if a man lives a modest humble life, takes away sin. -- St. John Chrysostom

While still in this world, we must wholeheartedly repent of sins committed in the body and make it possible for the Lord to save us while there is time. When we have left this world, we shall no longer be able to repent and confess our sins. We must do the will of the Father, keep our bodies pure, and observe the commandments of the Lord, for this is the way to obtain eternal life. -- Sermon of the second century

"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land." -- Isaiah 1:18-19

Turn and Return

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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Willingness and Obedience