+ Jesus came to us to do two things: to
restore life, and to forgive sins. He certainly had the power and authority to
do both – and to do both easily and effectively.
Thus, we see him restoring
life in many small ways by the healings of mind, body and spirit that he
accomplished wherever he went.
But today he demonstrates that
his ability to forgive sins was also a vital part of his mission – and in a way
connected with the other types of healings that he performed.
Sin is an illness, a sickness,
a disordering of the human soul with God the source of life, freedom and peace.
And so, to forgive sin in the context of sickness is not foreign to his
mission.
Thanks to the powerful
sacramental system Jesus set in place in the Church – especially the Sacrament
of Penance – we have an opportunity – when we “come to our senses” as the
Prodigal Son did – to return to our Father – to place ourselves before him with
our sorrow – and experience his great compassion, love and overabundant joy at
having us get in right relationship with ourselves and with one another and
with him.
This he does with those
magnificent words of spiritual health and healing with the words of absolution that
are just as earth shattering and effective as the words of consecration at Mass
of the elements of bread and wine.
May we avail ourselves often
of the “health sacraments” not only of Eucharist, but also Confession. Our
lives will profit greatly from it.
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