The Sunday Before Theophany (31st) *2 (2 Tim. 4:5–8; Mk. 1:1–8)

16.1.1887

Before the Lord’s appearance to the people and His entry into the work of accomplishing the economy of our salvation, St John the Forerunner was sent to prepare the people to receive Him. The preparation consisted in a call to repentance. And from that time repentance became the path to the Lord and Savior and the threshold of faith in Him. The Savior Himself began His preaching with the words: ”Repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mk. 1:15).

Repentance and faith lead one another along for the soul that seeks salvation. Repentance weighs it down with the burden of sins and terrifies it with the inexorable judgment of God’s righteousness. But faith comes and points to the Deliverer who has taken upon Himself the sin of the world. The penitent cleaves to the Deliverer and, having laid down the burden of sins through confession, joyfully follows after Him along the path of His commandments. Faith, then, is born of repentance and stands upon it. The penitent holds firmly to faith out of a sense of having been delivered. Faith is alive through repentance. Without repentance it is like a little tree without a life-giving stream—feeble and without vital power.