How can one see his own sins? #

This is an important question because it is natural for people to notice the sins of others before paying attention to their own. The Lord Jesus Christ addresses this tendency in the parable about removing the beam from one’s own eye before trying to remove the speck from another’s. This highlights something inherent in human nature that makes it difficult to see one’s own sins.

In the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee, the Lord reveals the cause of this phenomenon. The Pharisee, upon entering the temple, thanked God for not being like other people—he claimed to follow the commandments, pray, fast, and tithe. Meanwhile, the publican beat his chest and simply said:

“God be merciful to me a sinner!”

The Lord declared that the publican left the temple more justified than the Pharisee, for:

“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Indeed, the desire to exalt oneself blinds us to our own sins, while humility allows us to see our true moral state.

In our everyday lives, we cannot see clearly when the lighting is poor. It is hard to make out anything in a dark room, especially when there is no moonlight or streetlight outside. But as soon as the light is turned on, everything in the room becomes visible—both the good and the bad. Stains on the wallpaper and cobwebs in the corners become apparent if the light is bright enough. The same principle applies spiritually.

If you are in darkness, you cannot see your path and may stumble into a pit. But when you stand in the Light, your way becomes clear, and you do not stumble. When you are near the Source of Light, you see your condition—your flaws, vices, shortcomings, and sins. Light reveals everything. However, if you are far from the Source of Light, you cannot properly examine yourself or recognize what is wrong.

The Light for us is our Lord Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of John, it is written of Him:

“That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.”

And He says in the same Gospel:

“Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.”

And again:

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

The simple recipe for seeing your sins is to draw as close to Christ as possible: read about Him in the Gospels and the teachings of the holy fathers, pray to Him, and imitate Him in all things, as well as those who followed Him—the saints of God. By doing so, you will dwell in this Light and clearly see your sins.

—Priest Mikhail Rodin