Reconciliation

‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’  Luke 18

This simple prayer we just heard in our Gospel goes a long way toward reconciling us to our generous and forgiving Savior.  None of us likes to have our faults and failings brought out into to the light.  None of us likes to admit that we are less than perfect.  I think that is perhaps why so few people take advantage of the beautiful sacrament of Reconciliation any more.  We’d rather not have to admit to how we have fallen short of being the person God has created us to be.

Yet, it is in acknowledging our sinful nature rather than ignoring it or making excuses for it, that we take the most significant step in our return to the Lord.  We are weak.  We are flawed.  Therefore, it is only right that we turn humbly to God and seek reconciliation.  Only when we admit to our need for the mercy and forgiveness of God, can we truly receive that precious gift, and only then can we begin to make the changes we need to avoid doing the same things going forward.

As we continue in this holy season of Lent, let us plan to make some time to examine our conscience, and celebrate the wonderful sacrament of Reconciliation. For it will be in this way that we will remain on the path that leads to the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.