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Reconciliation is a celebration of relationship. It is a celebration of the greatest gift of mercy and love. It is a celebration that God loves us out of failures. In the sacrament, the priest stands as Christ’s representative, and in Christ’s name, reminds us that we are God’s beloved, that our shortcomings can be overcome, and that God does not hold a grudge.
Reconciliation is named a sacrament of healing because through it we can recognize where we are doing and being what we are meant to do and become. It helps us recognize our life as a journey towards knowing, loving, and serving God, of being the person God has created us to be. And it is a reminder that when we go in the wrong direction, our destination may still be reached. Reconciliation gets us back on track, and God is always there to guide us. Reconciliation is the assurance that will never remain lost, as long as we are willing to receive direction.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation, while there is an individual part of it, is also a “communal” event. When we are not being who we are meant to be, we are affecting our work in the world to bring Christ’s goodness, love, and truth to others. We are not living in relationships as they are meant to be. Therefore, we are affecting others, not only in a personal way, but in a way that God wants us to act for love and justice – together. This is one reason the Catholic Church celebrates reconciliation as a sacrament, one where the whole family of Christians can give us the support we need to maintain our promise to love God with all of our actions.
Please contact our Religious Education Office for more information at 708-388-4004.