1. I’m a sinner. I really want to be a better man, however.
2. The bible says that only God forgives sins. “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Mark 2:7
3. I’m a Christian so when the Bible says that Jesus forgives sins I believe it. “The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Mark 2:10
4. I’m a Catholic so when the Bible says that Jesus gives this power to forgive sins to his ministers to exercise in his name I believe it. “He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” John 20:22-23
5. The bible calls this exercise of the power of absolution by the “ambassadors of Christ” the “ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
6. The bible says clearly to “confess your sins.” So I do. James 5:16
7. So when I sin, I repent and find an ambassador of Christ who exercises the ministry of reconciliation so that I can confess my sin and receive forgiveness in his name. I also like that I can get advice from this ambassador to help me be a better man.
I like going to confession: most of the time. Sometimes I have a bad experience but that doesn’t keep me from going. I remember my first confession when I was a child in the second grade. I remember that I was having a hard time trying to put all my ill deeds in order from bad to worst. I felt much better after I got everything off my chest and heard that fatherly old man behind the screen tell me that everything was all right, that I was forgiven and that I should go in peace. Today it’s much easier for me to put my confession list together. I still have that same feeling, though, when that fatherly old man behind the screen tells me that it’s all right, I’m forgiven and that I should go in peace. I always feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Hearing is believing, I guess. It keeps me coming back.
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