"Guard
your heart more than anything you treasure, for it is the source of life" (Proverbs 4:23). With
these words the Holy Scripture calls us to preserve our moral cleanliness. But
what hope can a sinner have with an unclean conscience? Is he forever doomed?
Fortunately not! In contrast to other religions, the great privilege offered by
the Christian faith is the fact that it opens a path and gives the means for a
complete cleansing of conscience. This path exists in the repentanceof one's
sins, and in a sincere desire to turn life around for the better. God forgives
us because of His Only Begotten Son, Who on the cross brought cleansing
sacrifice for our sins. In the sacrament of Baptism, and then in the sacraments
of Confession and Communion, God cleanses man's conscience "from evil
doing" (Heb. 9:14). That is why the
Church places such great significance on these sacraments.
Moreover, the Church
of Christ, through its teaching and the grace of the Holy Spirit
abiding in her, enables the faithful to perfect themselves morally and make
their conscience more discerning and sensitive. This is one of the high goals
of our Christian life, as Jesus Christ said in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed
are those whose hearts are pure; they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8). Through
a clear conscience, as through a clear crystal, God's light enters our soul and
permeates its every corner. As long as this light remains in us, it guides our
thoughts, elevates our feelings, strengthens our will, and helps us in every
good undertaking. Through this blessed illumination, many Christians become
instruments of God's providence. When this happens, a Christian not only enjoys
spiritual blessings, but also becomes an instrument of salvation to others.
Church history illustrates this with innumerable examples in the lives of its
Saints like Seraphim of Sarov, John of Kronstadt, Elder Ambrosy of Optina,
Saints Herman and Innocent of Alaska, Blessed Xenia of Petersburg, Archbishop
John of San Francisco [Maximovich], and others who saved so many souls.
In conclusion, a clear conscience is a well-spring
of all Divine blessings. People with clean hearts enjoy inner peace; they are
gentle and benevolent. It seems that already in this temporary life, filled
with trials and turmoil, God gives them a foretaste of the Kingdom
of Heaven. As Saint
John Chrysostom puts
it: "Not fame and wealth, not great power and physical strength, not a
magnificent table and elegant clothing, not any other human advantage can bring
true happiness. This comes only from spiritual health and a clear
conscience."
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