His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, in this profound sermon, speaks about the importance of being righteous from within, because true righteousness begins in the heart, not in outward appearances. God looks to the heart, to the intention, conscience, and thought—not to shapes or words.

1. Inner righteousness as the foundation

• A person may appear righteous outwardly while his heart is full of pride, envy, or lust.

• The Lord said: “My son, give Me your heart” because the heart is the center of spiritual life.

• Outward righteousness is useless if it is not born from within, for God weighs hearts and spirits and knows their truth.

2. Weakness and strength from within

• Inner weakness makes a person yield easily to sin, while inner strength grants steadfastness in trials.

• The righteous person from within does not seek sin, and if temptation comes, he resists it.

• Examples: David was strong inside when he refused to kill Saul, weak when he fell with Bathsheba; Elijah was strong before Ahab but weak before Jezebel; Abraham was strong when offering Isaac but weak when he feared in Egypt.

3. Purity of heart

• Inner purity guards a person from falling and makes his actions sincere and clean.

• The heart must be pure, the mind holy, and the soul rejecting evil even in secret.

• When the heart weakens, virtues collapse before the slightest pressure.

4. Distinguishing between appearance and essence

• Some fast or pray outwardly without inner humility or purity.

• True fasting is detachment from desire, and true chastity is purity of heart before body.

• Modesty is not only external dress but an inner sense of reverence before God, even in solitude.

5. Faith and repentance from within

• Repentance is not words of confession but a true hatred of sin in the heart.

• Firm faith comes from within and cannot be shaken by external doubts.

• True forgiveness is not by tongue only but through sincere love in the heart.

6. Fruits of inner righteousness

• The one strong inside cannot be shaken by external wars, like Job who stood firm despite losing everything.

• A pure heart brings inner peace and fills a person with God’s grace.

• Inner righteousness makes a person wise, humble, steadfast, and pure in thought.

Conclusion
His Holiness calls everyone to examine their heart and intention and to focus on reforming the inside before the outside, because true spiritual life is an inner struggle. When the heart is strong, all else becomes upright, and the person becomes a dwelling place for God.

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