God's forgiveness in Confession: 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time

            Our readings this morning remind us of one of the most comforting qualities of God—forgiveness.

            When we sin, we may subconsciously think—though we would rarely admit it—that God is like a child on an anthill with a magnifying glass who can’t wait to smite us.  Or that God is that crabby teacher who delights in marking our test with red ink and putting a big fat F on it.  This is far from true.  In fact, God is our loving Father Who can’t wait to pour out His love and mercy upon us.

            We just prayed together, “Lord, you are good and forgiving.”  The third stanza of the Psalm echoed an event that happened long ago, recorded in the second book of the Bible—Exodus.  The event occurred after Moses asked to see God’s face.  God promised He would show Moses His glory, though Moses could not perceive His faith or He would die.  So He showed him His back and uttered the words reechoed in this Psalm: “You, O LORD, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity.”

            Our first reading also captures God’s willingness to forgive: “Your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all.”  Think about that—our all powerful, all knowing and ever present God is lenient to us.  The author goes on to write, “But though you are the master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us…”  I know if I had absolute power, I would be tempted to seek revenge and justice on those who have wronged me.  Yet we have nothing to fear when approaching God with humility.

            There is no sin you can commit that cannot be forgiven.  All you have to do is ask for it. 

And God gives us Catholics a great gift—Confession.  A five-minute confession to a priest and a simple prayer by him and all your sins are wiped away.  That’s the best deal in the world!  While it may be embarrassing or awkward to confess, know that I am not here to condemn you or yell at you.  I go myself weekly because I, too, am a sinner. 

Having been a priest two years, the most joyful and humbling experiences I have had have been in the confessional.  This is especially true for those who haven’t come for thirty, forty or fifty years.  You might think these are the people we priests are most likely to give a hard time.  Quite the contrary is true.  I am even more inclined to show Christ’s compassion with such souls.

Please see the bulletin as some of our confession times have changed.  If it has been longer than a month, please come soon!

Jesus gives us a vivid parable in the Gospel with the wheat and the weeds.  He is specifically addressing the end times when the wheat will be harvested and the weeds will be plucked up and burned.  Yet the Catechism shows that this parable also applies to our own souls.  Indeed, we each have wheat—our good deeds, virtues, prayers—and weeds—our sins, vices and poor decisions—growing in us.  Confession is the place where Jesus plucks up the weeds in our soul and throws them out forever.

Please come to Confession and know of God’s love and mercy.