In fact, when one grows old, he is given the opportunity to repent more readily because  illusions are gone. While he still had his physical strength and his youth, he wasn’t aware of his weaknesses, and imagined himself to be in a good spiritual state. But now that he has difficulties and is complaining, it helps him realize that he is not all right, that he is weak; and this helps him repent. If he makes good use of the few years he has ahead and uses his past years’ experience well, Christ will not abandon him; He will be merciful.

Repentance is a baptism of tears. Through repentance, man is re-baptised, reborn. Through his denial, the Apostle Peter betrayed Christ in a way, but because he wept bitterly, he received forgiveness for his fall. In other words, his sincere repentance washed him clean again. You see, God first created the earth, the seas, and all creation, and then took from the dust of the earth and created man. Man is first born of the flesh and then, in Baptism, he is reborn spiritually through water, a creation of God, and through the Uncreated Divine Grace of the Holy Spirit – through water and the Spirit – he becomes a new man.

– ‘Spiritual Struggle’