The word of the day is “cleanse.”  In these times, we think of disease in medical terms.  We speak in terms of infections, cancers, and disorders of the heart and other organs.  But when we speak of sin, we use words like transgressions, shortcomings, disobedience and “missing the mark.”  However, the Orthodox Church tends to talk about sin as a disease that needs healing and the corruption that needs cleansing. The Cleansing of Conscience The Orthodox approach to sin and redemption is in keeping with our reading of Hebrews 9:11-14.  In that view, the purpose of Christ’s sacrifice is purification.  The apostle writes, “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean,…