St. John the Divine says that there is a way for man to become infallible – the only way upon earth that man can be infallible – is when he acknowledges his sinfulness. He says, If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (I John 1:8-9.)
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One of the most ancient cities of the Promised Land was Shechem, also called Sikima. Near to this town, Jacob, who had come from Mesopotamia in the nineteenth century before Christ, bought a piece of land where there was a well. This well, preserved even until the time of Christ, was known as Jacob’s Well. This town, before it was taken into possession by Samaria, was also the leading city of the kingdom of the ten tribes. It was the first city in Canaan visited by the Patriarch Abraham. Here also, Jesus of Navi (Joshua) addressed the tribes of Israel for the last time. Almost three hundred years later, all Israel assembled there to make Roboam (Rehoboam) king.
“If it were easy to see our sins, St. Ephraim the Syrian would not have prayed: ‘Lord, enable me to see my transgressions.’ Neither would St. John of Kronstadt have said: “This is truly a gift of God – to be able to see your sins in their multitude and in all their loathsomeness.’
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Our sojourn on this earth is time for us to learn how to die, but unfortunately, nothing we are taught in this life enables us to deal with the end. Our generation has learned to trust in its own intellect, in its own judgment, and this hinders our training for the moment of death – the moment when all of our powers will forsake us. Even our wonderful mind, in which we have put all our trust will abandon us…
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“In order to enter Paradise, one must have a heart as wide as the heavens, a heart that embraces all men. If a heart excludes just one person, it will not be accepted by the Lord because He will not be able to dwell in it.”
- Fr. Zechariah
Adam was driven out of Paradise because in disobedience he had eaten food; but Moses was granted the vision of God, because he had cleansed the eye of Ms soul through fasting.
If then we long to dwell in Paradise, let us abstain from all needless food; and if we desire to see God, let us like Moses fast for forty days…
(Triodion Praises from Forgiveness Sunday)