Part 1 of 10: Sacrament of Penance, Jesus placed great value on forgiveness [Catholic Caucus]

The CatholicSpirit..com ^ | March 10, 2009 | Father Michael Van Sloun

[Salvation]

Jesus placed great value on forgiveness

By Father Michael Van Sloun - For The Catholic Spirit   

Tuesday, 10 March 2009

The following is the first in a 10-part series on reconciliation.

Penance

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Father Michael Van Sloun

For Jesus, forgiveness is of paramount importance. It is the flip side of the love coin.

Jesus wants us to love one another as he has loved us, and he explained that the way that people will know that we are his disciples is by the love that we have for one another (John 15:12,15; 13:35).

But our love is im­perfect. We damage our relationship with God and neighbor when we sin — the coin flips. To remain in sin and alienation is to be in a tailspin. Forgiveness is the way to turn the coin back and return to love.

Jesus’ teachings

Jesus often spoke about forgiveness, forgave those who sinned against others, forgave those who sinned against him and asked the church to continue his healing ministry.

Jesus taught, “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you” (Matthew 6:14). Peter asked Jesus how often it is necessary to forgive, and Jesus replied, “Seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22), a number to be taken symbolically, not literally, for the never-ending way that we ought to forgive.

Jesus liked to use parables to illustrate various aspects of forgiveness. During his conversation with Peter, Jesus told the parable of the unforgiving servant (Mat­thew 18:23-35). Luke’s Gospel has a series of five forgiveness parables: the barren fig tree (13:6-9); the bent over woman (13:10-13); the lost sheep (15:4-7); the lost coin (15:8-10); and the greatest forgiveness parable of all, the prodigal son (15:11-32).

Jesus was extremely kind and merciful in the way that he forgave those who sinned against others. He told the paralytic, “Child, yours sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5). When a sinful woman bathed Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair, Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48). When a woman caught in adultery was brought before him, he said, “I do not condemn you” (John 8:11). And as Jesus hung on the cross he told the repentant criminal, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Even more compelling is the way that Jesus forgave those who sinned against him directly. For Jesus, forgiveness was not an automatic; it was intentional, a conscious choice.

After the Roman soldiers had scourged and nailed him, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). After the resurrection, Jesus had every right to be furious. Peter had denied him. The others had deserted him. When he entered the upper room, they deserved a severe reprimand. But instead, with divine compassion, Jesus said not once but three times, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19, 21, 26).

Continuing ministry

Jesus asked his disciples to continue his forgiveness ministry. Jesus told Peter, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19). And after the resurrection, Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them” (John 20:22, 23).

Father Michael Van Sloun is pastor of St. Stephen in Anoka.

[Salvation]

Sacrament of Penance -- Reconciliation -- Confession. Many names for the same sacrament.

[Salvation]

Oops, that was supposed to be Part 1 of 10. I decided to go with regular numerals.

Could you please change it for me? Thanks.

[Salvation]

Sacrament of Penance Ping.

[Salvation]

Confession Questions From the Pew [Catholic Caucus] Introduction to 10 Part Series

Part 1 of 10: Sacrament of Penance, Jesus placed great value on forgiveness [Catholic Caucus]

[Salvation]

Confession Questions From the Pew [Catholic Caucus] Introduction to 10 Part Series

Part 1 of 10: Sacrament of Penance, Jesus placed great value on forgiveness [Catholic Caucus]

Beginning Catholic: The Sacrament of Reconciliation: Rising Again to New Life [Ecumenical]
Why do I have to confess my sins to a priest?
Why do Catholics have to confess their sins to a priest instead of praying straight to God? [Ecu]

When did confession to a priest start? [Ecumenical]
Confession, Confession Everywhere (Cardinal Says Youth Day Is Reviving the Sacrament)
In One Church, Confession Makes a Comeback (Catholic Caucus)
Priests should encourage recovery of Sacrament of Reconciliation
A Gift That is Always in Season (Sacrament of Penance) Catholic Caucus

[Sacrament of]Confession
Make a Good Confession
Those in Mortal Sin Can't Go to Communion, Says Pope
Holy Week Recovers Celebration of Penance (at St. Peter's Basilica) - photos!
Reasons for Confession [Sacrament of Reconciliation]

Lesson 19: Confession (Part 1) BY FATHER ALTIER
Lesson 20: Confession (Part 2) BY FATHER ROBERT ALTIER
Serious about God? Then get serious about confession
St. Ephraim the Syrian: On Repentance
What happened to confession – Changing mores reflective of use
Repentance and Confession - Introduction [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]

The Spiritual and Psychological Value of Frequent Confession
Pick a sin, any sin (Confession gone awry)
The Early Church Fathers on Confession / Reconciliation - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
Catholics called from the idiot box to confession
Benedict XVI Extols Sacrament of Penance - Says Priests Need to Make It a Priority

Confession’s Comeback
Priests say more Catholics returning to confession
Pope Hears Confessions of Youth
MESSAGE FOR ALL CATHOLICS (in preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday - April 15)
Salvation: Just click and confess

CONFESSION AND CONFUSION
Get Thee To A Confessional! (beautiful insight for those who dread going to Confession)
Emerging Trends: The Return to the Confessional
Confessing to 'sins' is booming in America (Evangelicals and Protestants take up practice)
What You [Catholics] Need to Know: Penance (Reconciliation, Confession) [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]

A Comeback for Confession
MORTAL SIN and HOLY CONFESSION - The Antidote of Death
Thinking Inside the Box: An Attitude for Confession
Confessional Advice
The Epidemic and the Cure [The Sin of the World and the Sacrament of Reconciliation] (Confession)

[Salvation]

Examination of Conscience
A Guide for Confession

Why Go to Confession? (Part 1) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte
Why Go to Confession? (Part 2) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte
How To Make a Good Confession (especially if you haven't gone in years)
Why Go to Confession? (Part 3) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte
Pulling Sin up by the Roots: The Need for Mortification

Reasons for Confession [Sacrament of Reconciliation]
Cardinal Stafford's Homily at Penitential Liturgy With an Examination of Conscience
How to Go to Confession
Fr. Z’s 20 Tips For Making A Good Confession
Learning to Confess

[pray4liberty]

I keep forgiving my family, but they won't forgive me for anything. They never change.

What am I supposed to do now?

[Salvation]

Part 2 of 10: Sacrament of Penance, Church’s symbols help explain penance [Catholic Caucus]