PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD MAKE STRAIGHT HIS PATHS
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins MARK 1:2-5
INTRODUCTION
As we prepare our homes for Christmas, guests, decorations, clean carpets etc, what about our Spiritual House? What do we do with the messiness that resides there…anger, resentments, grudges, habits of sin that stain our souls and cloud our wills.
Let’s brighten up His dwelling place within us. We need to be reconciled to God and neighbor. What is the best Spiritual House cleaning tool for this?
The Sacrament of Reconciliation!
The evening of His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to his Apostles, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” JOHN 20:21-23
WHOSE SINS YOU FORGIVE ARE FORGIVEN THEM
Remember the priest, when hearing your confession, is in persona Christi (person of Christ). It is Christ you are confessing your sins It doesn’t matter to the priest how long ago your last confession was. You can’t shock the priest either. The priest has heard it all.
When the priest receives the penitent, he is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seek the lost sheep and the Good Samaritan who binds up the wounds. The priest is the sign and instrument of God’s mercy.
We know how merciful God is from the many stories from Scripture…the Prodigal Son…The woman at the well…the woman caught in adultery…. And the Good Thief…. This day you will be with me in Paradise…
…When you give Me your sins, you give Me the joy of being your Savior. There is nothing I cannot forgive and heal…Come to Me with your misery and your sins. I stand at the door of your heart and knock… I am seeking you every moment of the day….
JESUS SEEKS US OUT; WON’T YOU LET HIM IN!