The Greatest Sin in Your Life
Main idea
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about the many mistakes in a person’s life, but he distinguishes between the easy mistakes that can be forgotten and the “great” mistakes that remain attached to conscience and are not easily erased.
The depth of sin and its effect
He explains that some sins have depth in the conscience and heart so they are always remembered and affect feelings, dreams, and daily behavior, and their effects continue and make the person suffer despite repentance.
Biblical and life examples
He cites experiences from the Holy Bible and from life (such as David, Solomon, Samson, Judas, Peter, Thomas, Ananias and Sapphira, and Simon the Sorcerer) to show that there are sins that are not forgotten because they changed the course of a person’s life or played a pivotal role in it.
Types of sins that are not forgotten
He mentions practical examples: betrayal, pregnancy outside marriage, addiction, crimes, revealing a secret, public scandal, or a first-time mistake that makes the person tied to a persistent behavior he cannot leave.
The effect of a sensitive conscience
He clarifies that the sensitive conscience suffers and recalls sins, while the dormant conscience does not feel or be affected until it awakens, and when it awakens the pain is great and it needs gradual revelation from God for repentance and healing.
How to deal with the “great sin”
Liberation requires humility before God, fervent prayer, and struggle with the self. True repentance is important but may not remove all the earthly consequences of the mistake; some consequences remain and need practical struggle to remove them or live with them in peace.
A call to reflection and action
He concludes with a call for every person to contemplate: what is their great sin stuck to them? And to place that sin before God honestly and fight it with humility, prayer, and spiritual work to clear the conscience.
Repentance
For better translation support, please contact the center.
