On Ash Wednesday, our children sang an “I’m Sorry” song to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle.” As adults in The Episcopal Church, we have our own “I’m Sorry” song. It’s called the rite of reconciliation, or simply confession. The season of Lent is an appropriate time to receive this sacrament because it is a means of receiving forgiveness for any part of your life.
You may be wondering, Why do I need to do this? Haven’t I have been accepted and forgiven through my baptism? Isn’t it enough that I confess with my congregation every Sunday before communion? That question is very personal; the answer varies for each of us. But I will say that we all violate our baptismal vows. And while we do renew our vows, we can’t be rebaptized, so confession is a means to be forgiven so we can be renewed once again. Even then, there may be times in our lives when a public confession during worship just isn’t enough. We may long for a private, personal confession with the help of a priest. You will know, because the sacrament of reconciliation is for those who sense a need for change.
Reconciliation is an invitation to draw closer to God by being truthful about all we carry, such as shame, regret, the need to forgive, or anything else that separates us from God. It involves asking “Where am I right now?” and identifying those parts that God is calling to wholeness. By opening ourselves in this way, we invite God’s grace to flow into our lives to do what we can’t do on our own.
In his book Reconciliation, Martin Smith explains that God already carries our pain. When we confess our painful, broken parts, we acknowledge God’s feelings, too—so bringing our broken parts to God creates a close, intimate connection. Here’s what really gave me pause: Smith writes that forgiveness is not just something that God grants us, but that God actually is forgiveness. When you know forgiveness, you know God—and knowing God is a gift for all of us to claim. In fact, God’s greatest longing is that you claim this gift.
Contact Mother Nina to set up an appointment.
Mother Nina+
Comments