The very word Confession can conjure up a variety of images and stories. On the other hand, those who frequent the sacrament will explain that the sense of peace and intimacy with Christ overwhelms any initial hesitancy they might feel walking into the confessional. As one of the two Sacraments of Healing, Confession or Reconciliation is a sign of the abundant love of God.

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For Jesus, forgiveness is like the bottom side of a coin with love on the heads side. His mission on earth was to reconcile all creation with the Father. Jesus calls us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. However, our love is imperfect and we damage our relationship with God and others so the coin flips to tails. Yet, we are not left in our sin. Just as Jesus forgave the paralytic, the woman caught in adultery and the repentant criminal on the cross, He longs to forgive us, too. Before returning to His Father, Jesus gave the apostles His forgiveness ministry: He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them.” (Jn 20:22-23)