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Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty · Catechism · 740

Faith Q&A › Catechism › 19. The Sacrament of Repentance & Confession

Why do you fear the Friend of sinners?

The answer

St. Jacob of Sarug concludes his homily on repentance by calling sinners to be content with the Friend of sinners. For as much as He does not accept sin, He is very gentle with sinners, to carry them on His shoulders so that any evil may not approach them.

He says, “O sinner, your path is easy if you repent. When you come to Him, He will not greet you with hostility. The righteous one is to be feared, but do not be afraid when you draw near Him … He left all the others to carry you on His shoulders. Blessed is He who came and through whom the sinners entered and in whom they were justified. To Him be the glory from all His creation, forever. Amen.”

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty, Catechism of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Volume 1, Books 1–3. First English Edition, 2023. Published by St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Sporting, Alexandria, and Queen St. Mary & Prince Tadros Coptic Orthodox Church, South Brunswick, NJ. Copyright © 2023. Translation and Editing: Youth of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Arabian Gulf, and Egypt.