We Must Be Witnesses to the Sacrament of Reconciliation by Freeing Ourselves from Sin

"Courage, child, your sins are forgiven."

Listen to my homily for today:

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Mass Readings for the Day

"Only God can forgive sins," said the scribes.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church reaffirms this, yet continues to explain that Jesus has entrusted this sacred power to his priests:

1441 Only God forgives sins. Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, "The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" and exercises this divine power: "Your sins are forgiven." Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his name.

Why do not more people avail themselves of the forgiveness that God himself gives in this sacrament of healing, reconciliation, and peace?  They have no one to show them.  We must be witnesses of the Mercy of God by bearing forth that royal seal of freedom from sin.  If we are very serious of being free of sin we will, as St Teresa of Avila says, "have a hatred of our venial faults," and confess our sins weekly.  Though scripture says, "the just fall seven times" a day (Proverbs 24:16), it is possible to be a witness to Jesus' mercy by falling onto Christ sacramentally.

May Our Lady help us to be witnesses of this great sacrament.