Meditation Twenty-nine, Fourth Week of September 2003

The Forgiveness of Sins

Readings: Psalm 16; Matt. 16:17-20; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 22:31-34; Col. 3:5-17.

That God forgives sins is clearly seen in the Jewish Scriptures (the Old Testament) as well as in the Gospels and other New Testament writings. We do not earn forgiveness or demand it of God, because He has already promised it to us. He gives us the grace to ask to be forgiven (prevenient grace), and He summons us to repentance in so many ways. It is interesting that the idea of divine forgiveness is not found in the traditional old religions we may still encounter in remote parts of Africa and Asia. Tribal people may actually be quite religious and define all aspects of life by religious beliefs, but they do not believe their sins can be forgiven, because all they know of God comes from nature. They can know God's almighty power and His divinity (Romans 1:20), but God's mercy and forgiveness are known only by His revelation.

Our knowledge of God's willingness to forgive comes to us from Christ, who joins the forgiveness of sin with baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God (see Matt. 28:19). Baptism is the unique road to complete forgiveness, so that a newly baptized adult, though required to repent of his previous sins, is not obliged to confess them. We know from Christ's forgiveness of Peter and the other apostles and from the constant call of St. Paul and other New Testament writers to their baptized converts to repent that sins committed after baptism can be forgiven if the person is truly repentant. Later in these meditations we will consider the beautiful sacrament of reconciliation. It is important to recall that Christ explicitly gave the apostles the power in His name to communicate His divine forgiveness (John 20:22-23). At the same time He gave them the ability to withhold forgiveness from those who are not truly repentant.

How beautiful and consoling is the gift of forgiveness. Looking back on their earlier days, Christians sometimes feel they are not forgiven. Any complete act of repentance, even if we cannot recall all specific past sins, returns the most sinful soul to the state of grace when they receive the sacrament of reconciliation. If it is not possible to receive the sacrament, the Church teaches that repentance arising from real regret for having offended the loving God makes the person open to receive the grace of divine forgiveness and to return to God's friendship. None of this is easy or cheap love, nor is it just God being nice. It is founded entirely on Christ's sacrifice on the Cross. He has satisfied justice by taking on our sins.

Quotation for Meditation

St. Augustine, Confessions, IX, 1.

O Lord, I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant and the son of Thy handmaid. Thou hast broken my bonds. I will sacrifice to Thee the sacrifice of praise. Let my heart and my tongue praise Thee, and let all my bones say, O Lord, who is like to Thee? Let them say and do Thou answer me and say to my soul: I am Thy salvation. Who am I and what kind of man am I? What evil has there not been in my deeds, or if not in my deeds, in my words, or if not in my words, then in my will? But you, Lord, are good and merciful, and Your right hand had regard to the profundity of my death and drew out the abyss of corruption that was in the bottom of my heart. By Your gift I had come totally not to will what I willed but to will what You willed. But where in all that long time was my free will, and from what deep sunken hiding-place was it suddenly summoned forth in the moment in which I bowed my neck to Your easy yoke and my shoulders to Your light burden, Christ Jesus, my Helper and my Redeemer? How lovely I suddenly found it to be free from the loveliness of those vanities, so that now it was a joy to renounce what I had been so afraid to lose. For You cast them out of me, O true and supreme Loveliness, You cast them out of me and took their place in me, You who are sweeter than all pleasure, yet not to flesh and blood; brighter than all light, yet deeper within than any secret; loftier than all honour, but not to those who are lofty to themselves. Now my mind was free from the cares that had gnawed it, from aspiring and getting and weltering in filth and rubbing the scab of lust. And I talked with You as friends talk, my glory and my riches and my salvation, my Lord God.

Quiet Time and Then Discussion

Questions for Meditation

1. Do I sometimes think with loving gratitude of God's forgiveness of my sins?

2. Do I realize that in some mysterious way Christ has paid the price for my sins?

3. When I meet others burdened with self-hatred and guilt, do I seriously suggest that they spend time in prayer and receive the sacrament of reconciliation?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You paid the price for the world's salvation and for mine as well. I am mostly ungrateful for Your gift, Your endless and ongoing gift of forgiveness. As I struggle daily with my sins and failings, I am more aware of Your love for me and for all poor sinners. This realization should make me all the more forgiving and understanding of my fellow sinners on the way to eternal life. May You have mercy on us all. Amen.