Call to Forgiveness!

I remember a number of years ago, when I was in the seminary, a confessor telling me that the hardest person to forgive is yourself. That is true, but we always need to be open to the great love and mercy that God has for us. As I told the people during the weekend Masses, "Do not be afraid to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation. God's love and mercy is greater than any sin we have committed." The passage from Daniel 9:5 says, "We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws." The commentary that follows says this, and it is key to our call to forgiveness, "Admitting sin is one of the hardest things in the world to do. We are not so reluctant to confess the small sins or the sins that matter very little to us, but we struggle to present honestly to God the sins most deeply woven into the fabric of our lives and, in confessing them, to let them go. During Lent, we call on the power of Christ's cross to free us from these bonds that hold us" (Magnificat, 292-93). We hold on to things that we have done because it is easy, but we need to make the effort to let them go. We know that we are sinners in need of God's mercy and forgiveness and our sinfulness should not hinder us in our relationship with God. This is a message for all of us during this Lenten Season, let go of those sins, our faults and failings that hold us back, and let God do wonders in our lives. May we answer that call to repentance and forgiveness. God bless you!!!