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→Cleansing from Minor Sins
==Cleansing from Minor Sins==
As we have seen above, Saint Mark of Ephesus taught that those who have departed this life with minor sins unconfessed or small faults, or who have not brought forth fruits of repentance for sins are not abandoned by God but are saved by God in a final cleansing. The emphasis on repentance and bringing forth fruits of repentance is a very common teaching of the Church and the saints. The significance of this doctrine is for those who have not achieved perfect repentance in this life or complete purification of the soul from the passion passions before they die.
In the Bridegroom Matins of Holy Tuesday we recall the parable of the talents as we sing, "Come, O faithful, let us work zealously for the Master, for he distributes wealth to his servants. Let each of us according to his ability increase his talent of grace... Thus, we shall increase what has been entrusted to us, and as faithful stewards of grace we shall be accounted worthy of the Master's joy." Each Christian is given the grace of forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit but it is our responsibility to cooperate with that grace and increase it so to speak by growing in godliness and holiness through a life of repentance and sanctification. But there is a real possibility that those who have been forgiven by God do not go on to increase the gift of grace by brining forth fruits of repentance. "How shall I, the unworthy one, appear in the splendor of thy saints? For is I dare to enter thy bridal chamber with them, my garments will betray me for they are unfit for a wedding. The angels will cast me out in chains. But cleanse the filth of my soul, O Lord, and save me in they love for mankind." But the failure to more fully repent does deprive us of all hope as we pray to God to save us, to cleanse us from the sickness and solution of our souls by sin. "O Christ the Bridegroom, my soul has slumbered in laziness. I have no lamp aflame with virtues. Like the foolish virgins I wander aimlessly when it is time for work. But do not close thy compassionate heart to me O Master. Rouse me, shake off my heavy sleep. Lead me with the wise virgins into the bridal chamber, that I may hear the pure voice of those that feast and cry unceasingly, 'O Lord, glory to thee.' "
