Confession

If asked how your sins are forgiven, most Catholics are likely to say, "By going to Confession." That is right, of course. But is it a secondary reality to what empowers the sacrament to forgive men's sins in the first place. The "psalm" from last night's Magnificat evening prayer:

He chose us in [Christ], before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. - Ephesians 1:4-8

Never forget: Our sins are forgiven through the bloody, sacrificial death of Jesus in the Roman province of Judea about the year 30 A.D. And it was us that killed him. Yet despite what we deserve, God still offers us forgiveness if we are truly sorry for what we've done, confess our sins, & seek to amend our lives. How could we ever make ammends for the great mercy of God, other than to give thanks by receiving his overwhelming love & radiating it to others!?!

I will try to remember that next time I go to Confession.