LENT AND THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE

Bishop Paul S. Coakley

On the First Sunday of Lent we heard that immediately after his baptism, “Jesus was lead by the Holy Spirit into the desert” (Lk.4:1).  For forty days Jesus fasted, prayed and was tempted by the devil.   To appreciate the dispositions we ought to cultivate during the season of Lent, it is helpful to recall the meaning of Jesus’ baptism which preceded his sojourn in the desert.

The baptism administered by John was an act of repentance which began with a personal confession of sins (Mk.1:5).  Those who went down to the Jordan to be baptized by John humbled themselves.   Their action was accompanied by heartfelt prayer for pardon.   Imagine the scene: crowds of the “unwashed” gathering at the Jordan River to confess their sins. How shocking to see Jesus joining the ranks of these sinful men and women!  Should seeing Jesus awaiting his turn among the ranks of sinners at the Jordan be any less shocking than it might be to see him in the confessional line in any Catholic Church on a Saturday afternoon?

IMAGINE THE SCENE:  crowds of the “unwashed” gathering at the Jordan River to confess their sins.  How shocking to see Jesus joining the ranks of these sinful men and women!  Should seeing Jesus awaiting his turn among the ranks of sinners at the Jordan be any less shocking than it might be to see him in the confessional line in any Catholic Church on a Saturday afternoon?

Jesus’ baptism shows us how completely he identifies himself with us sinners.  Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God, went down into the Jordan to be baptized as an act of solidarity with sinful humanity.  He takes the sins of the world (including mine and yours) upon himself.  As his public life unfolds and leads ultimately to his passion and death, he bears our sins and nails them to the cross.  As we proclaim in the memorial acclamation at Mass, “Dying he destroyed our death. Rising he restored our life.”  Such is the amazing mercy of God!

WHEN JESUS WAS criticized for his association with sinners he replied, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.  I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Mk.2:17). 

Failing to confess our sins, we exclude ourselves from the company of Jesus, who was known as the “friend of sinners” (Lk.7:34)!   If Jesus does not hesitate to identify himself with sinful humanity, why would we be so hesitant to do so?  It is only in the acknowledgement of our sins that we can encounter the mercy of God.

OUR LENTEN DISCIPLINES are incomplete if they do not lead us to repentance and the confession of our sins in the Sacrament of Penance.  Lent is a time to examine our lives and make permanent changes that will help us follow Jesus more closely.  I suggest we each ought to examine our use of this sacrament.  The Sacrament of Penance is one of the means Christ entrusted to his Church to heal, to reconcile and help us grow in holiness.  How well do we make use of this precious gift?  The Sacrament of Penance is not just for Lent and Advent.  It can and ought to be a regular, even monthly, practice as a powerful aid in our struggle to overcome sin and grow in virtue.   There is plenty of room in the confessional line for each of us.  Jesus is saving us a place.