The Spiritual Media Series – Confession and Communion
Pope Shenouda III discusses the subjects of confession and Communion, explaining that true confession begins when a person first admits within himself that he has sinned.
He emphasizes that confession requires humility of heart, because justifying sin, denying it, or placing its responsibility on others adds another sin to the original sin.
Examining oneself in the light of God’s commandments, the teaching of Scripture, and the lives of the saints helps a person discover his faults honestly.
Inner confession is the first step toward repentance, changing one’s life, and leaving sin behind.
Spiritual Message
Confession should not be merely a habit or words spoken before the priest; it must come from a genuine conviction that the person has sinned, together with repentance and a sincere desire to leave the sin.
If a person has wronged someone else, he should admit his fault to that person and seek to repair the consequences of the sin, whether they involve material rights, damage to someone’s reputation, or harm to the relationship.
Pope Shenouda presents the examples of Zacchaeus the tax collector and David the Prophet to show that true repentance is not limited to verbal confession, but is accompanied by remorse, repairing what sin has damaged, and training oneself not to repeat it.
Educational Lesson
The discussion then moves to Holy Communion, explaining that the Lord Christ spoke clearly about it in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, and that Communion is the Bread of Life and a cause of life in Christ.
He explains that Communion represents a new covenant between a person and God and the beginning of a new life; therefore, it requires preparation through repentance, a contrite heart, and purity of heart.
He also explains that the benefit received from Communion is connected to the preparation of the heart and love for God, and that Communion should not become merely a habit without a willingness to change one’s life.
Practical Application
Pope Shenouda calls a person to be as careful in judging himself as he is in judging others, and to search for the causes of sin and stay away from the doors that lead him to it.
He also emphasizes that a person should not stay away from Communion, while at the same time he should not approach it without proper preparation, but should come with humility and an awareness of his need for God’s grace and spiritual healing.
The purpose of confession and Communion is for a person to live a genuine life of repentance and a new life with God, using the grace received in Communion to live with spiritual watchfulness and not return to his former sins.
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