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Coptic Orthodox Priest FR Takla Azmy
Coptic Orthodox Priest FR Takla Azmy
Coptic Orthodox Priest FR Takla Azmy
Come to Me
Introduction:
These and many other questions disturb the minds of our children and interfere
with their desire to repent and return to the loving-kindness of their Heavenly
[repentance and confession]. Consequently, the children are deprived of the sacrament of unification with
Christ--Holy Communion.
When unbelievers sense this uncertainty in our children, especially regarding the sacrament of
confession, they offer advice which has the effect of diminishing their desire to repent and confess. They
may also turn against their kind mother, the Orthodox Church.
My dear son and daughter, let us understand the truth. Do not be ashamed to admit your transgressions,
for "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteouness righteousness"[I john 1:9]. This book is a guide to help you account for your actions and
examine your intentions. In order to benefit from it, read it before every confession until you learn proper
way to confess.
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the tree and I did eat," (Genesis 3:12). He disobeyed the commandment of God and refused to admit his
mistake. Also in Genesis, (chapter4) we find the story of Cain and Abel. Cain rose against his brother
Abel and killed him. God called Cain and asked him, "Cain, where is your brother Abel?" Again, God is
asking even though He knows all things, for all things are revealed before him. God asked Cain where
his brother was, even though He knew beforehand what would happen: Didn't He give Cain a chance to
confess and repent from the murder of his brother and from disobeying God's commandment? yet, we
find that Cain refused to confess and repent and rejected God's question, saying, "Am I my brother's
keeper?" In the Old Testament we see that confession is necessary to remove guilt. Jonah said to God, "I
knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness and repentant thee of
the evil," (Jonah 4:2). The Lord calls us daily, saying, "Come to me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest," (Matthew 11:28). He also says, "He who comes to me I will in no way cast
out," (John 6:37). So what excuse do we have? Didn't He also say, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they
shall be white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool". (Isaish 1:8). There is
none greater than you, Lord, nor greater than your love for us. "For God so loved the world that He gave
his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life," (John
3:16).
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confessed her sins before Him. She is a perfect example of God's divine planning--that we should learn to
confess our sins.
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on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:18 -19). And again the Lord gave this power to all the
disciples and clarified the extent of the tie between the power of the priest in receiving confessions and
the forgiveness that is dependent on confession when he said in Matthew 18:15-18: "Moreover if thy
brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between him and thee alone: If he shall hear
thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that
in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear
them, tell it unto the church: But if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man
and a publican. Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and
whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
My Beloved
Now, what do you think of the sacrament of confession? Don't you feel that it is a divine matter, as you
saw in the stories of the sick of the palsy and the Samaritan woman? Don't you also feel that the reason
for the salvation of the thief who was crucified on the right side of Jesus was because he felt guilty and
repented and confessed before the Lord Jesus? Hear what he said: "For we receive the due reward of our
deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou
comest into thy kingdom,"(Luke 23:41-42). Therefore, the disciples received the power and used it. "And
many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds, (Acts 19:8). Now you have seen that
confession must be done in the presence of a priest according to the power the Lord Jesus gave him.
"Whose so ever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose so ever sins ye retain, they are
retained," (John 20:23).
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hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again;
he was lost and is found," (Luke 15:22-24). The mother rejoices because her task has been
completed. The mother here is the church, and the intention of this example is as follows: God is, by
nature, love: for "God is love" (John 4:8). Sin causes us to lose this love...what happened to Adam is that
he became deprived of God's love when he disobeyed his commandment. Therefore, if you defy God's
commandments, you will separate yourself form Him and deprive yourself form His love. Thus, it is sin
that causes us to depart form God's way, but we are not able to live far from God. The Father is God and
we are the children, and the mother is the church who directs all her efforts toward strengthening our
love for God, which is in Jesus Christ..She is the one that does not cease to call us to repentance. She
rejoices and says, "Repent, for the kingdom of God in a spiritual conference--confession. So
repentance and confession is reconciliation with God.
Saint Kiriatos says: "Everyone should confess his sins while he is alive so that he can gain his soul
through the advice and help of the priest."
Saint Basilious says: "It is necessary to confess our sins before those who have been granted the secrets
of God."
Saint Tertelianous says: "Many have worried more about embarrassment than about salvation and avoid
confession to hide their shame or put it off from one day to the next, like one who has an embarrassing
disease and refuses to tell his doctor. The result is that he speeds up his own death."
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scorpions and over all the power of the enemy," (and the enemy is Satan. Luke 10:19). You have the
power to overcome the Devil. This power is from the Lord Jesus, who lives inside you. Be aware that
the Lord Jesus, to whom is due all glory, gave us an example of how to conquer the Devil when He was
tempted by him. Lets us see how the Lord prevailed by the power of the written word...see what
happened when the Lord said to the Devil, "Get thee hence, Satan..."(Matthew 4:10). St. Matthew
reminds us in Chapter 4, verse 11 that, "behold, angels came and ministered unto him." The angels will
come to you if you resist evil. My beloved, be certain that you can do all things through Christ who
strengthens you (Phillippians 4:3). Be assured that you can stay away from sin if you ask for God's help
and that you can overcome Satan as Jesus promised us, "Resist the Devil and he will flee from you,"
(James 4:7). Come now, that we may discuss the question we asked previously, "How should I
confess?"
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cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and
thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy
temple. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds
were wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was
about me forever; yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God. When my soul
fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple,"
(Jonah 2:2-7). Cry with David the prophet, saying, "Have mercy on me O God, according to thy loving
kindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me
thoroughly from mine iniquities and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and
my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight: That
thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in
iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the
hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me,
and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast
broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean
heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy
holy spirit from me," (Psalm 51). Rise and offer your soul to God, revealing your weakness before him,
asking for His help, mercy and strength. This is a necessary step for the expression of repentance and the
feeling of the pain of sin and the significance of your need for the grace of God and His help, mercy and
strength. This is a necessary step for the expression of repentance and the feeling of the pain of sin and
the significance of your need for the grace of God and His help, so that you may turn from your sins.
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through the way to eternal life and that you put all your trust in him. This person is your confession
father. Thus, the confession finalizes this sacrament. Through it, you obtain forgiveness and guidance.
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● What are the obstacles that keep you from confessing, and have you tried to overcome them?
● Do you rejoice at the meeting of your confession, father and try intentionally to meet him?
● Do you honestly try to carry out the advice of your confession father?
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● Do you feel that you have repented or are you still unsure?
● Do you desire the life of holiness and work toward it?
● Do you set aside time for prayer, or does it depend on the situation?
● Have you tried to overcome these situations that interfere with prayer?
● Do you say other prayers before and after meals, before studying, before work, etc.?
● Have you used prayer to overcome sin, fear, and problems? In other words, do you feel that
● Do you make time to attend church or does your attendance depend on whether or not you have
time?
● Do you attend with the intention of taking communion every time?
● Do you take part in the service?
● Do you focus you attention on the prayer of the Liturgy or does your mind wander?
● Do you leave church and then go to places which separate you from God (bad friends, cinema,
television) or do you sanctify the whole day?
● Do you honor the church and feel that God is present there?
● Do you have certain meetings in the church and do you attend them regularly and rejoice when
the meeting time draws near, regardless of the circumstances?
● Have you tried to take part in the service of God?
● Do you feel responsibility toward your studies and, success and toward your brothers and sisters?
● Do you love your brothers and sisters and favor them over yourself and try to help them in all
honesty?
● Are you only concerned with your demands regardless of the circumstances of the household?
● Do you play a role in maintaining peace in the house or the opposite? Are you pleased with this?
● Do you feel that you are the greatest among your brothers and sisters and always favor yourself
over them?
● Do you feel jealous of you brothers and sisters and like to be first in everything and have all your
wishes fulfilled?
Conclusion
My Beloved sons and daughters:- This book is NOT intended to be a lecture on the Sacrament of
confession; but only a genuine invitation to practice this Holy Sacrament, and to experience how
wonderful life could be with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ Loves you...whatever may be your sins. For He said, "they that are whole need not a
physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (Luke
5:31,32).
Open your heart to Jesus..be Honest and Truthful with yourself and have faith of how much God
loves you..
This is the chance to dispose of your sins! Here on earth while we are still in flesh; because in the eternal
life there is no repentance, confession or redemption but judgment (John 5:24-30). The church is
praying for you...and asking our Lord on your behalf to accept your repentance and confession.
Come to me
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