Godišnjak (Nov 2023)
Исповест и васпитање
Abstract
Confession and repentance, being the sacrament of the Church, constitute a place of meeting between God’s grace and human freedom, which is thus transformed into the true freedom of God’s sons and daughters. A man who loves the beauty and purity of graceful, sacramental, and virtuous life cannot live without confession. Just like any Christian who does not participate in the communion of Christ, in the liturgical gifts of Christ’s Body and Blood, cannot call himself by this holy name, the neglect of the grace by which those who confess educate themselves represents spiritual death. The correct and salvific life in freedom, as given in the Church, cannot actualize if one neglects repentance and confession. Modern man, sick from the consequences of sin, cannot get better without the salvific confession. Many psychological and somatic disorders stem from reducing the confession to mere “custom” and obligation. Rediscovering the pure spring of the graceful life in Christ and renovating graceful freedom through the tears of repentance and honest confession represent a way threaded by the Church’s Fathers. If we want to show the graceful perspective of freedom and God’s love to modern humanity, we are obliged to personally and communally approach Christ through confession and repentance, so we might be transformed into gods by grace. A cleansed and Christ-bearing man is truly free and capable of living as God has intended – in eternal joy and grace of God’s Kingdom. This cleansing and transfiguration begin in time and continue in eternity. The education for eternal life is based on confession and our decision to follow Christ and fulfill his commandments. We rise if we fall and stumble, all thanks to Christ, who brings us into eternal life.
Keywords
