My Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
Whom do you seek this Lenten season? How are you in relationship with God and your sisters and brothers? The prophet Joel calls us to return to God with our whole heart. This is a big ask!
For while we are hope-filled pilgrims on the journey to the New Jerusalem, the core of our being, our heart, may be multi-tasking.
That is, we may also covet things or gossip or keep anger toward family members or others and hold these in our heart. If this is the case, then our whole heart is not offered to God; but only a portion, the part that is centrally focused on ourselves, instead of God and one another. God says, to understand His graciousness and mercy, so that we might bring His Spirit to one another, He asks us to leave the things we covet behind.
As we enter the Fifth Sunday of Lent, it would do well to take ourselves to task and really examine our conscience; to do a self-check on the nature of the love we have for God and one another. If you have not already done so, avail yourself to the Sacrament of Reconciliation also known as the Sacrament of Confession or Sacrament of Penance.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation brings about a change of heart through God’s mercy and forgiveness. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of healing. By our participation in the Sacrament, we reconcile the distance between ourselves and God, to heal these wounds. We begin again with a renewed spirit to bear witness to Him in every way possible. Our transfiguration through the Sacrament of Reconciliation entails both God’s forgiveness and our reconciliation with one another. These are expressed and accomplished liturgically by the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
As Jesus walked the earth, we hear Him forgiving different people who turned away from God. His forgiveness was also an invitation to become anew and rejoin the people of God by expressing God’s love through their daily living. In St. John’s Gospel on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, we hear proclaimed these words, “Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” Jesus tells the woman, don’t hold My forgiveness all to yourself; go into the community and live in God’s love.
In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we receive the sweetness of God’s love. Pope Francis says, “Repentance springs entirely from the awareness of our misery in the face of God’s infinite love and his limitless mercy.” Loving God above all things means putting God at the center of our lives and entrusting everything to Him. Our Holy Father offers, “This primacy animates every other love: for men and creation, because he who loves God loves his brother and seeks his good, always, in justice and peace.” Every time you approach God asking for His forgiveness, you receive His words, “The Lord is with you!”
Pope Francis tells us, “Reconciliation is not primarily our drawing near to God, but His embrace that enfolds, astonishes, and overwhelms us. The Lord enters our home … and brings us unexpected amazement and joy — the joy of forgiveness.” Our Holy Father encourages us,
“May we not neglect Reconciliation, but rediscover it as the Sacrament of joy.” Yes, the Sacrament of joy, for our shame for our sins becomes the occasion for an experience of the warm embrace of the Father, the gentle strength of Jesus who heals us, and the “maternal tenderness” of the Holy Spirit. That is the heart of Confession.”
Seek the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Return to God with your whole heart, not just a portion of it! Then join Him and transfigure the community of faith that all might come to know, love and serve God.