The Conscience at Death

[@osbujeff1]

Thank you for the kind comments about the coffee, Father.

[@annalynn9325]

what kind of coffee is it?

[@osbujeff1]

@@annalynn9325 We’re an Orthodox family coffee business in Fort Worth, Canopy Point Coffee.

[@annalynn9325]

@@osbujeff1 Cool! I’ll try it. I’m an Orthodox coffee drinker in ETX

[@osbujeff1]

@@annalynn9325 I’m originally from Tyler, still have family there. Wish I knew about the Orthodox faith growing up in East Texas!

[@americaneclectic]

I am a retired Hospice nurse. I agree with the intensity of conscience near death. Also some persons near death have told me about seeing angels around; others have told me of dark, lurking beings that caused them fear.

[@mingus445_gaming]

wow, any correlation between their beliefs and what they saw?

[@gigig2492]

When my Mom was near to her death, she saw terrible things-she said “what are those things? They aren’t HUMAN.” and a little while later was fearful, saying, “they want to beat me up! they want to beat me up!” It was awful. I told her to say the Jesus prayer (she was a Baptist) She repeated it after me and settled down. Later she was quietly praying (kind of like talking in her sleep) “Lord hear my prayer” and “Lord, make me a good person”. I know the Lord is merciful. May the Lord grant her soul peace and Eternal Memory.

[@gomertube]

I sat daily with a dear friend in Hospice for 21 days, a record duration for the facility. To my knowledge, she never had any visions, inspirations, or epiphanies. She did, however, believe that a backpack on the sofa was a small boy. Oftentimes life just ends without any glory.

[@AthanasiaOrtholady]

@@gigig2492You know you can pray for her soul… Make some kolyva for her soul…. And take them to church to be read in prayer for your ancestors!!!!

[@AthanasiaOrtholady]

@@gomertubean Orthodox church

[@mjphyil]

Recently diagnosed with CKD in my 50's, with a life expectancy of less than 20 years and it certainly changed my perspective, as many things in my life are now changing, none for the better. It certainly makes me thankful for God's grace and mercy and while I long for heaven I feel a debt for my sins, how can it be that He would die for one like me...

[@rasthis4980]

It’s an expression of love that not one human can do, only God himself.

[@diananoonen2262]

This is so timely. I have been guiding my young adult children to confession and repentence thier whole lives. I am in the process of making right 40 years of non repentence and correction that have either slipped through or were just too unresolvable in my mind( not trusting). The guidence to my children, If I could go back and bless my younger self- it would start with prayer, confession and repentence. To wait many years to resolve spiritual issues, and I thank God its happening, can create many dis- ease in the person. Again, Glory to God for this correction and constant deliverance. Father, your talk on the concience is very critical- I just pray our younger Orthodox can grasp and understand this fully. Thank you.

[@AthanasiaOrtholady]

I think that there is a time and a place where god allows this to happen to all that believe in him!!! I mean…to some it comes earlier…to some it comes later❤ It is never too late.

[@nickstone3113]

Thank you for yr talks and words at the time when the church is in a mess. Between fundamentalists and modernists. And rest. I am Greek orthodox living in Bulgaria. . Where the Church has had a difficult time. One of the pithy sayings of St John Chrysostom I always quite is ," If you can't fast with yr tongue ,don't bother with yr stomach ". Another one is the tongue is worst than the sword. Thank you for today's talk . We all need to think about this Moye. .

[@barbaravandriel1179]

Fabulous talk ... many thanks, Father!

[@Georgia-d3o]

This is a crazy ‘coincidence.’ Just before this video found me I was in deep reflection about my conscience… examples of times when I listened to it which made a huge difference. Once it saved my life & another time I was literally free falling into great sin, I had no remorse & was loving what I was doing. At some point I heard my conscience and thankfully immediately I stopped what I was doing. I was headed for disaster.

[@janelfstedt5114]

Thank you father for these words. This is something that has been on my heart lately. My father passed away just a few weeks ago.

[@thomasjorge4734]

Happy Feast Day of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr! O, Patron of Comedians and Chefs, pray for us.

[@JoshJimenez_]

Thank you Father

[@elainapoochie2734]

Like always, we appreciate you father!

[@orthodoxboomergrandma3561]

Thank you Father!

[@lindaphillips4646]

Father, these words are perfectly timed. I will not say why. But the Lord, and those who know us, knows why.. Thank you.

[@outspeaker1229]

Lets preach about the conscience first, as everyone, even non believers have a conscience and know of its reality. God Speaks through our conscience, so it should be the first thing we preach about, not the last. If we preach to obey the conscience, they may walk towards acceptimg correction, and that may lead to accepting and obeying God.

[@GregorKappler]

Father, thank you again for your encouragements how to practice humility! Around me I see a lot of the torment of conscience as death nears. But most tormented are lashing out whenever truth confronts them. It is becoming a sight that still increasingly pities me, while their lashings are less and less frightening and tormenting me. We see their torments and all doubts about whether a hell is existing dissolve, as their eyes and wicked actions are but small windows into that abyss of stupid hateful rebellion against God. Since seeing an older story from you I still practice: whenever I realize that lies are spread about me, I start thinking "Do not be upset. That just means that God is forgiving you!" followed by a prayer plea to teach ALL humility and forgiveness - with still increasing delight. Thank you so much! You are a blessing. But I am also bothered by a question... I pray that you will talk more about your Grandfather: You say that his conscience about wicked things in his youth bothered him, in spite of all the good deeds he did in his later work as a Rhodes' scholar and advisor in politics. My question is motivated by my bio: I too had been blessed with a (less famous) scholarship for the aspiring elite. I believe that God sent me there so I can study thoroughly what truth is and understand that I was born into and swimming in an ocean of lies, and more. I might not have been able to study the Logos without that scholarship, which logically brought me to my beloved savior Jesus. However, I heard stories during the scholarship that haunt me to this day - and alienate me to listeners whenever I disclose these memories. So for a long time I fell silent, turned a blind eye to these memories, and forgot about them, attained a naive attitude of "not seeing evil". Then finally my eyes were opened again and the evil I did not want to understand was revealed to me so suddenly that I could not move in the world, and could only pray, for a long time trembling at that sight. I lay out these memories before Jesus, what should I do? The question: Was your grandfather's conscience not bothered by what he witnessed in his scholarship and his political life? Considering the history, the reputation and the impact of Rhodes and his foundation's scholars, I cannot imagine your grandfather was not exposed to more wickedness than I was. God bless you!

[@jeanneelisabeth]

Thank you so much, Father. for this very informative video.

[@Anna-mc3ll]

Thank you for sharing this important message! God bless you!

[@angelandres08]

beautifully phrased and easy to understand. Yet very true. Best regards

[@scummymummy2548]

Beautiful

[@orion9k]

I sometimes pray to God that my mom or dad would one day wake up with a conscience and see what they have done wrong in past life and still is doing wrong e.g. self damaging (or what I call damage to God) by living a really bad lifestyle, not believing on God, smoking, drinking, eating bad, sedentary most days, blaming genetics for their bad health while expecting everyone else especially their children to take care of them when they are sick while they them selves ignore their own parrents and children when they fall ill to sicknesss, expecting their children to take care of their parrents (which I did for several years in my younger years, helping my grandmother few times a week with cleaning and grosseries while my mom was living a luxery lifestyle in another country while her mom was slowly dying.

[@csizzle24377]

Thank you

[@PoorSeraphim7]

I live in Kirksville Mo!! Small world. Are your grandparents buried here?

[@kidflersh7807]

Lutherans talk alot about consience, and stress that we must be comforted by our Baptism. A nice presentation of their view on that can be found in the hymn "God's Own Child, Gladly I Say It" What is the Orthodox response to that?

[@urubissoldat5452]

If anyone is looking for the coffee that the Fr shouted out. It's Canopy Point coffee.

[@nickstone3113]

I too have since 2018 a potentially life ending disease .

[@simplyapleb9027]

Father Josiah, you touched up on an interesting topic and particularly an interesting word of the 'conscience' . Perhaps in later vids, I would thoroughly enjoy for this subject to be more elaborately defined. I am familiar with terms such as Phronema and nous or 'mind' or even more or less the context of one suffering in 'ignorance'. Also, could we perchance elaborate further on the context of hamartia or sin. Thank you kindly and your prayers/blessing ☦️🙏🏼

[@mariami2670]

Father please give me an advice, how to pray or what to do for a person who is a member of freemasonry. Please Father answer my question when you will be able. Thank you. ❤

[@SimpleAmadeus]

I feel very twisted about this. On the one hand, I do try to obey my conscience as much as I can manage, so that it will not convict me. On the other hand, transgressing my conscience is the only thing that can keep me humble, so that I will not become complacent and prideful. I suppose this paradoxical back-and-forth might be the entire point of our struggle with accursed sin.

[@Gustavo-so7zk]

However, there are transgressions that your conscience does not even pick up on. Until your conscience becomes perfect and in line with God’s will, you should remain humble even in the absence of any perceived transgressions against your conscience.

[@SimpleAmadeus]

@@Gustavo-so7zk That's good advice. Thank you.

[@AthanasiaOrtholady]

My father and up to his last moments was saying he kept on seeing the Theotokos and his father(who was a priest…) Every time he spoke of the Theotokos his face sweetened and he was saying that she is protecting him. Just before he passed my mother was with him…It happened like at 7am…My mom said that for a minute her eyes closed and she saw my father as a little boy waving at her. As she opened her eyes she heard his last breath. My maternal grandmother died 12years later and she was talking of her going to a wedding…She was saying that the songs were grant and that my father was singing with an angelic voice. ❤ I would ask her where is my dad…And half awake but with a smile she’d say….Oh he’s sitting in a high seat in the church😢 I know my father is at a good place.❤❤❤

[@TheLorraineclelland]

Won't he need his bones when the Lord returns?

[@GuitarTunings33]

🙏

[@richardt.buryan832]

CORRECT.

[@BrianJesusSantana]

❤️🙏🏼

[@coldjello8436]

Algorithm boost.

[@Hollyhock7]

Algorithm boost, squared!! 😅😅❤❤

[@Bobthe0strich]

Idk if I should be laughing but the kiss caught me off guard lol 0:43

[@sofijaantzaras4970]

Why would you even laugh?? It is customary as Orthodox to revere holy relics with a venerable kiss.

[@Bobthe0strich]

@@sofijaantzaras4970 I’m aware. I do it myself. I think you’re making this more serious than it actually is

[@sofijaantzaras4970]

it was not possible to come to that conclusion given the phrasing of your original comment...@@Bobthe0strich

[@Bobthe0strich]

@@sofijaantzaras4970 have a good day Sofija

[@GimbalLocksOnly]

I can no longer pretend. I simply just dont understand anything anymore. Why did my brother and I get sexually abused? The sons of "christians". Why did my "christian" mother beat the fuck out of me starting at age 4? I only ever find pain or dissapointment in everything I do. I just dont understand and cant go on anymore. Why? Ive never been happy. Just excited about things that eventually never happen. I dont think I can ever understand what is going on here on earth. I am on the verge of abandoning the faith... anyone have something I can read or see that can help me hang on?

[@hemingway5627]

Don't lose hope.We live in a fallen creation.Things are not perfect.God has a plan for all.Try to ask Him for direction and I guarantee you will find happiness.

[@marcmanolache2106]

These types of people exist in every group. Every organization has its sociopaths. I challenge you to show me one institution that isn't affected by fallen human nature. Every religion, business, school, hospital, sports team, music ensemble, etc. has its molesters, embezzlers, and murderers. The consequences of the Fall of Man continue to impact us. Therefore, we cannot judge a group by its worst members. Instead, we must look to the best examples of a belief system to see what it is capable of producing. The saints are the only ones who represent Orthodoxy taken to its logical conclusion. Theosis is what Orthodoxy is capable of. No other system can say that. Sure, Islam may have "based" people, Protestantism may have kind people, Buddhism may have wise people, Atheism may have intelligent people, etc. These are all good things and we should give credit where credit is due. But none of them can claim sainthood. The saints should be your reference point, not some nasty hypocrites who disgrace the name of Christianity. Those types of people are nothings, zero.

[@annalynn9325]

So sorry for what you went through. I understand what it feels like when trauma and pain from the past won’t seem to let go, casts a shadow that never seems to end. Have you heard of St Thaney? Also there is a podcast on Ancient Faith called Healing the Unresolved. Have you talked to your priest about what you experienced? Also there is a book called The Ethics of Beauty (Patitsas) you might look into.

[@AndrewKalish]

My brother, I understand your pain. I too was sexually assaulted at age 10 by a “christian” adult. These abusers are not true Christians. Although we are all sinners, there is a difference between a repentant sinner and a willfully active sinner like those who abuse others. As Orthodox Christians we must humble ourselves to receive God and begin Metanoia, a change of behavior and change of mind. We must pray, follow the fasts, participate in the Divine Liturgy, Holy Communion, Confession, and forgive others as hard as that may be. By practicing the Orthodox way, you will able to let go of earthly expectations and begin to experience the eternal love of God. I am willing to listen and help you find your way. Reply if you would like

[@JasonCova]

Dear Brother, Are you speaking to a Priest and a Counselor about these things? Where are you? Are you anywhere near Southern California? Can you come visit St. Andrew Parish in Riverside? If we can connect somehow I would like to be of help. Please let me know. God be your Hope, Helper, and Healer.

[@standingontherockofages]

Psalm 34:7-9 7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. Romans 10:9-10 - The New International Version (NIV) 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved 1 Corinthians 15:4 “And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

[@GimbalLocksOnly]

Why wasnt my brother and I delivered from sexual abuse as children? Why could I not be delivered from the beatings as a child? Why? Why? I was foolish to believe orthodoxy could explain what no one else can: why?

[@BrianJesusSantana]

@@GimbalLocksOnly Brother I’m sorry for what happened to you, many evil things men do… if it were not so then the world would be perfect, sadly it is an evil world, the Lord bless you and move you into his peace and salvation ❤️

[@standingontherockofages]

@@GimbalLocksOnly I got to thinking about your question and I wanted to ask you something? What if every day of your life you was sick and struggled? Would you turn against God or would you love God more. Some people draw very near to God during hard times and God knows the heart of man. Trust God and get yourself saved because right now if you are not saved then you are unprotected and You need the protection of the blood covering of Jesus Christ. Jesus is alive and he cares for us all!!

[@heluk596]

❣️❣️❣️

[@AthanasiaOrtholady]

✨✨☦️✨✨👆❤❤St.John Chryssostom😔I Love Him…His book on the Ladder😍😍🇬🇷✨✨

[@sophrapsune]

Thank you, Father.

[@AlexandraSloan-o8z]

Thank you Father.