Forgiveness

"We have no right to tell God the manner in which to forgive our sins."

I read this quote the other day and realized that it is something every one of us needs to take seriously. People generally struggle with some aspect of the process of God's forgiveness. Most would probably be content if it were just a Protestant idea like, "I feel sorry for my sins, so God forgives me". The problem is, as the quote says, it is not up to us.

Jesus told the Apostles to set up the Church and promised to use the Holy Ghost to guide them into "all truth" so that they would do it right. They did not invent the Sacrament of Confession, they merely implemented it because Jesus is the One Who began the process of God's forgiveness being conveyed through men (cf. Matthew 9:6-7 & John 20:23).

Our Lord knows best what each of us needs, and He knows the best pattern for us to find forgiveness and (especially) repentance. We have no right to tell God the manner in which to forgive our sins. If we reject what He has given us, we have no confidence that He will just "let it pass". Lent is almost over; if you have not already done so, go to confession!