Are we aware and informed? Do we take the time to educate ourselves about issues that affect the community and advocate on behalf of those who are poor and vulnerable? The Sacrament of Penance challenges us to examine our hearts inwardly and then express outwardly the ways we have failed to love God and neighbor—through both personal sin and social sin.
Only in recognizing our failings can our hearts be converted to God so that we can receive his forgiveness and allow his grace to heal us and our relationships. The Sacrament of Penance allows us to receive forgiveness of sins and be reconciled with God, self, the Church family, and the human family—restoring our broken communion. Through Penance, we return to right relationships Sacramentum Caritatis , no.
Reconciliation absolves us of our sin, but it does not repair the damage that was caused. We must do what is possible to repair the harm. The Catechism provides these examples: return stolen goods, restore the reputation of someone slandered, and pay compensation for injuries no.
We must work to repair the relationships with God and our neighbors that sin has impaired. Jesus is a role model of reconciliation and forgiveness. He stretched out his hands in love, acceptance and healing. Her perspective set me thinking — what was it that Jesus saw that called forth such love and acceptance, and healed people so completely?
Artists like de Vasconcellos are continually reconciling the image they see with what they create. Like them, we also have models that we look at when we think of ourselves. And, we can ask, does this model reconcile with the model I wish to be? The answer is often in the negative. Reconciliation, as Jesus demonstrated it, gives us an example of how to change the variable human model we entertain, to a more reliable, spiritual and truthful one. Adults readily admit the evil of terrorism, unjust war, lies, unfair treatment of people, and similar matters.
Society as a whole must also learn to admit the evil of abortion, physician-assisted suicide, and obtaining stem cells from embryos, which results in the death of embryonic human life. Denying evil corrupts us spiritually and psychologically.
Rationalizing our own evil is even more destructive. Jesus laid the foundation for the Sacrament of Penance during his ministry and confirmed it after his Resurrection. When Peter asked the number of times a person should forgive, Jesus told him that there should be no limit to forgiving. Jesus forgave Peter his triple denial, showed mercy to the woman taken in adultery, forgave the thief on the cross, and continually witnessed the mercy of God.
Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the Church. In confession we have the opportunity to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins, especially mortal sins. With absolution, we are reconciled to God and the Church. The Sacrament helps us stay close to the truth that we cannot live without God.
God wants us to be spiritually healthy and to be close to Him, so it is good to go to confession regularly. Check out a list of Confession times at St. Mary Immaculate, and know that God wants you to be in relationship with you, and that He loves you. Reconciliation The Sacrament of Reconciliation, often called Confession , is essential in the life of the Church.
Conclusion So, once we have confessed, received absolution, and completed our penance, we have right relationship with God and the Church, receive the forgiveness of all of our sins, and have spiritual healing. Back to SMI Blog. June 9,
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