The Healing of Reconciliation

Little beads of sweat gathered on my forehead. I wasn’t sure if I could do this.

I’d been to Confession before, but it wasn’t until recently that God was beckoning me to go deeper into my faith. Doing so, I realized there was a sin in my past that I never said in the confessional. I tried a couple times, but I couldn’t get the words out of my mouth. I was too ashamed.

However, God pressed it on my heart that if I wanted to be healed, I needed to humble myself and get it all out.

The time for internal debate was over. The person in front of me left the confessional, and it was my turn. I knelt down and started, "Bless me Father for I have sinned . . ." and with a sigh of resignation, I confessed all that I had been holding back.

Moments later, with tears streaming down my face, I heard the words of healing, “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” That was one of the most difficult confessions I ever made, but the weight that was lifted off my heart was incredible.

After all the excess of the holidays, Lent is like a spiritual cleansing and strengthening of the soul. Just as the people of Nineveh heeded the call of repentance from Jonah, we hear a call from the Church to look deeper into our lives and repent of our sins.

Let’s make a commitment today to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation with humble trust in the Lord’s mercy. Whether we’re tired of repeating the same sin or are afraid of voicing a sin we’re ashamed of, the Savior longs to heal your heart and embrace you with His mercy.

The Savior longs to heal your heart. // @bobbi_rolClick to tweet

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