Who's Afraid of Confession?
By Juan Rodriguez
"Forgive me father, for I have sinned." We say these words when entering into that intimate moment with God and His representative, the priest. What do you think about when you first go into the confessional? Most teens tell me that they are embarrassed to tell the priest their sins. Some have told me "you shouldn't confess to a man, because he cannot forgive sins; only God can."
Nobody wants to be embarrassed at all. The priest will not embarrass you. Many of us have a good friend who gives us good advice. Well, the priest is there to be a close
friend. Since the priests life is for God, who else better to confess your sins to, than to God's minister? God, through the priest, will then forgive your sins. When you confess your sins you are receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
"But come on Juan, they tell me not to confess to a man, for only God forgives sins (Mk 2:1-12). Why should we confess our sins to a priest?" You are right; God is the only one who can forgive us. However, Jesus gave His authority to the apostles to forgive sins (Jn 20:19-23). Jesus shows us this with the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32), where the son confesses, "Father I have sinned against God and before you...(Lk 15:21)" In this verse, the son confesses to his own father, "I have sinned against God..." and yet it seems that Jesus has no problem with it. In the parable, the son knew he had to be reconciled with his father (Ex 20:12, 21:17, Mt 5:21-26)and for this, he received a feast. The father forgives his son, in the same way the priest absolves the people of sins against God in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Confession is a celebration I would not miss!
"Forgive me father, for I have sinned." We say these words when entering into that intimate moment with God and His representative, the priest. What do you think about when you first go into the confessional? Most teens tell me that they are embarrassed to tell the priest their sins. Some have told me "you shouldn't confess to a man, because he cannot forgive sins; only God can."
Nobody wants to be embarrassed at all. The priest will not embarrass you. Many of us have a good friend who gives us good advice. Well, the priest is there to be a close
friend. Since the priests life is for God, who else better to confess your sins to, than to God's minister? God, through the priest, will then forgive your sins. When you confess your sins you are receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
"But come on Juan, they tell me not to confess to a man, for only God forgives sins (Mk 2:1-12). Why should we confess our sins to a priest?" You are right; God is the only one who can forgive us. However, Jesus gave His authority to the apostles to forgive sins (Jn 20:19-23). Jesus shows us this with the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32), where the son confesses, "Father I have sinned against God and before you...(Lk 15:21)" In this verse, the son confesses to his own father, "I have sinned against God..." and yet it seems that Jesus has no problem with it. In the parable, the son knew he had to be reconciled with his father (Ex 20:12, 21:17, Mt 5:21-26)and for this, he received a feast. The father forgives his son, in the same way the priest absolves the people of sins against God in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Confession is a celebration I would not miss!
posted by Arthanius | 7:25 AM
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