SATURDAY 6TH MARCH 2021
SECOND WEEK OF LENT
Micah 7:14-15,18-20
Luke 15:1-3,11-32
NO SHAME AT THE CONFESSIONAL
A young boy once walked up to me to tell me that he would like me to hear his confession, but would not want to do it in an open place because he doesn't want people around to see him as a sinner. It took me a lot of time to convince him that it is actually a thing of joy or pride to be at the confessional rather than shame.
There are many people today who have not reconciled with God because they are ashamed to be regarded as sinners. Some are afraid too because they think that God will not forgive them. The son who had committed a lot of atrocities against his father in the gospel reading, was initially ashamed to return home to his father, but he later summoned the courage to return to him, asking for forgiveness. As we see in the action of the father, God is always ready to receive us and he had been waiting for us to return.
As the prophet Micah tells us in the first reading, God takes our faults away and pardons our crimes, his anger does not last forever, he is always ready to pity us and show us his mercy. All we need to do today is to take the bold step of returning to our father, he is on the road, looking to see if we are on our way back.
Lord, give us the courage to accept our sins and return to you. Help us to seek you with our whole heart. Amen.
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP.
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