Неделя пред Богоявлением (31-я) *2

Before the appearance of the Lord to the people and His entry into the work of completing the economy of our salvation, St. John the Baptist was sent to prepare people to receive Him. The preparation consisted of a call to repentance. And from that time on, repentance became the path to the Lord Savior and the threshold of faith in Him. The Savior Himself began His sermon with the words: “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” (Mk1.15) Repentance and faith convey to each other the one who seeks salvation. Repentance burdens him with the burden of sins and frightens him with the inexorable judgment of God’s truth. But faith comes and shows him the Savior, who took away the sins of the world. The repentant cleaves to the Deliverer and, having laid down the burden of sins by confession, joyfully flows after Him, along the path of His commandments. Faith, thus, is born from repentance and stands on it. A repentant man holds fast to his faith through the feeling of deliverance. Faith is alive through repentance. Without repentance, she is like a tree without a life-giving current, lethargic and lifeless. You might be interested in: