Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection - April 6, 2025

One of the great privileges of being a priest is the opportunity to administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is so humbling to participate in the forgiveness of sins and the restoration of the relationship that a person has with our Heavenly Father. The presence of the Holy Spirit in each encounter enables the priest to act as God’s instrument as he receives each confession of sins. As I witness the lifting of the burden of sin and the feeling of peace that overwhelms each penitent, I see God’s compassionate love and mercy revealed.

Sadly, many Catholics are reluctant to experience the “amazing grace” of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We tend to approach the Sacrament thinking that God might respond as humans do – with anger or pride or refusal to accept our sorrowful apology. Somehow, we fail to understand or appreciate God’s infinite love for us and His desire to forgive us no matter what sins we have committed.

Some may feel fearful, ashamed, or embarrassed; others deny the need for the sacrament, claiming that they can confess their sins to God directly and have no need of absolution from a priest. Others are simply “too busy” and can’t seem to find the time to wait in the confessional line. Some have let so much time pass (in some cases >50 years), that they believe that it would be impossible to return to the sacrament. FORTUNATELY, NONE OF THESE FEELINGS OR BELIEFS IS TRUE!

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is about God’s infinite love. As scripture tells us, God’s ways are not our ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways. As we heard last week in the Parable of the Merciful Father, God NEVER stops waiting for us to return to Him and He NEVER refuses His forgiveness when we seek it. The sacrament is not about being judged or shamed or blamed. It is about being welcomed, embraced, and kissed by God. It is not about fear, but about the pure joy of knowing that the most important relationship in our lives can be perfectly restored simply by asking God to restore it.

Lent is almost over. Whether you have done much this Lent or nothing at all, consider receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It will change your life!

Fr. Mike