Repent and Believe in the Gospel

Sometimes when I ask the young people about Sin and confession, they usually sheepishly admit having been away for a real long time.  Some counter with if Jesus loves everyone, why do we have to go to confession.  To which I respond that it is for the same reason spouses and friends have to ask for forgiveness, and forgive each other.  Then of course there is the "I haven't killed anyone."  Murder seems to be the standard by which we determine if we should go to confession.

For the prodigal son, he had realized how much his father really loved him, and how 'dead' his life had become since he distanced himself from his community.  It was with a contrite and repentant heart that he returns to his home; overwhelmed by the compassion and love that he experiences as he comes back.  But on his return he understands how much he is worth to his father.

Perhaps this is why the entire ministry of Jesus centers on the Paschal Mystery, in which we encounter reconciliation and forgiveness of Sin.  Jesus tels his disciples to go out to baptize and gives them the authority to forgive sins.  In the Gospel stories we see a parade of people, the Samaritan woman, the woman who anoints Jesus' feet, who have experienced forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ, and now have the joy of living a new life.  Sin had hobbled them to behaviour and actions which were not life-giving, and had distanced them from the Father's love.  Now through reconciliation they had communion with God and the community.

The priest stands in the confessional as a mediator of God's people.  He does not judge the sins he hears, but rather reassures the penitent of God's love and the forgiveness of sins.  In the early Church the faith community prayed over the people involved in doing penance.   While the intention of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is decidedly not spiritual direction, for my part I end up doing a thirty second spiritual direction.  But how powerful that i to hear a voice saying, "And  I forgive you your sins, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit... ." 

Our faith challenge is to reject simplistic solutions (cut the tree down) and to cultivate our spiritual life so as to stand strong against Sin and Evil.  And the closer we are drawn to God the Father, and the life of his Son, the easier it is to move from Sin and sinfulness.  The parable today really shows us a different way to respond to the challenges of this life and the promises of the Kingdom.