Clean Week is intense because it is meant to wake us up. The Great Canon of St. Andrew confronts us with our weakness and reminds us that we are not as invincible as we often imagine. In a culture that constantly tells us we are good and self sufficient, the Church calls us back to reality. We are broken, and we need salvation.

But the message is not despair. It is hope. When we finally admit that we are sick, we can begin to seek healing. Repentance is not about self hatred. It is about honesty and transformation.

The life of St. Mary of Egypt stands as proof that no one is beyond God’s mercy. Her story shows that even the most fallen person can be restored through sincere repentance. If she could turn her life around completely, then there is hope for every one of us.

Lent gives us the opportunity to open our hearts to God. If ...