Reflection:
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we receive the New Life of Christ in the Holy Spirit. While our lives are ‘hidden now in Christ,’ we still carry this life in ‘earthen vessels.’  We are still in our “earthly tent,” subject to sufferings, illnesses and other trials on earth. This new life as a child of God can be weakened and even lost through sin (CCC 1420). Sin is, above all, an offense against God, a rupture of communion with Him. But Jesus has mercy on all of us and overlooks our sins when we repent, because He loves all things that He has made. Jesus is our Lord and King, the Lover of our souls, (Wis 11: 23 -24; 26; CCC- Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Repentance entails conversion, an interior transformation of the heart and mind. Jesus continues to call us to conversion and penance, that we may cease committing the same sins over and over again. Or worse, our conscience can become so numb, we no longer have that sense of guilt for our sins, and we would receive Holy Communion without going to confession. Our hearts become heavy and hardened. But God will give us a new heart (Ezk 36: 26-27), if we turn to Him with a contrite heart. We need that radical reorientation to have new life. We need to return, to convert to God with all our heart, to put an end to sin, turn away from evil, and feel repugnance for the evil actions we have committed. At the same time, this conversion entails the desire and resolution to change one’s life through hope in God’s mercy and trust in the help of His grace, (CCC 1431).

Conversion is the work of grace in our life, for it is God who makes all hearts return to Him: “Restore us to thyself, 0 Lord, that we may be restored!” (Lam 5:21).  God gives us the strength to begin anew.  But we must discover the greatness of God’s love in our hearts.  If are to be shaken by the horror and weight of sin, refrain from offending God, and develop healthy fear of being separated from Him.  The human heart is converted by looking at Jesus on the cross; contemplating Him who had no sin but suffered so much for us. He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins. Jesus died that we may be saved from eternal damnation. St. Clement of Rome says “Let us fix our eyes on Christ’s blood and understand how precious it is to His Father, for, poured for our salvation, it has brought to the whole world the grace of repentance.”

The conversion of our hearts requires the formation of an active conscience. This is done through an active prayer life in which, in the stillness of our hearts, an inner voice tells us where, how, and when we sin.  It is formed through the discipline of daily reading the Word of God, the bible, which is the light on our path. It will convict us on how much Christ suffered for the love of us; and how far we have strayed from this love of God. Heb 4: 12 says: “Indeed the Word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” As we spend time reading the bible, we will know how to remain in Jesus and obey His commandments. It will teach us the necessary virtues in order to avoid sin. As we observe the Word of God, it will deliver us from selfishness, pride, resentment, complacency, and help us to forgive others and seek reconciliation with others. 2 Tim 3: 16 says: “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

Only God forgives sins.  Since Jesus is the Son of God, He tells us Himself, “The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” and He exercises this divine power when He says, “Your sins are forgiven.” Further, by virtue of His divine authority, Jesus gives to
men (from the apostles down to the priests) the same authority to exercise this divine power in His Name (CCC 1441).  The priests, by virtue of the Sacrament of Holy Orders they receive, are exercising this authority in the name of Jesus, when they forgive our confessed sins. As we hear the words of forgiveness, we indeed receive once more the love, joy and peace of Jesus in our hearts, and in our spirits.

As it is Jesus Himself who extends forgiveness, we for our part fulfill the required penance given to us by the priest to remind us of the great love of God for us and the grace to avoid committing the sins we have confessed.  It reminds us also that we have to forgive those who have sinned against us and to be reconciled with one another. We cannot make an outcast of anyone in our lives, as Jesus clearly demonstrates in His loving care and concern for the sinner and outcast Zaccaheus, at whose repentance, Jesus immediately invites himself to dinner at Zaccheus’s house.

When we go to confession, we witness to others that we are sinners in need of a Savior, Jesus, who is Lord and King in our lives. We witness to others that we do not want to lose the Kingdom of God.

Reflection Questions:
1.    How can I realize how much Jesus loves me?
2.    When and how can I make a good confession?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
November 3, 2013 (Sun)    Wis 11:22-12:2/Ps 145:1,2,8-14/2Thes 1:11-2:2/Lk 19:1-10
November 4, 2013 (Mon)    Rom 11:29-36/Ps 69:30-31,33,34,36/Lk 14:12-14
November 5, 2013 (Tues)    Rom 12:5-16/Ps 131:1,2,3/Lk 14:15-24
November 6, 2013 (Wed)    Rom 13:8-10/Ps 112:1,2,4,5,9/Lk 14:25-33
November 7, 2013 (Thur)    Rom 14:7-12/Ps 27:1,4,13,14/Lk 15:1-10
November 8, 2013 (Fri)       Rom 15:14-21/Ps 98:1-4/Lk 16:1-8
November 9, 2013 (Sat)     Ez 47:1,2,8,9,12/Ps 46:2,3.5,6,8,9/1Cor 3:9-11,16,17/ Jn 2:13-22

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ.  Read your Bible daily!”

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