Saying You're Sorry

We know that there are times when we hurt each other, when we get mad or frustrated at someone else, or ignore them entirely. Those are times when the first step to fixing things is to say "I'm sorry".  Lent is an especially good time to examine our lives, determine where and how we could be doing better in living as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. Conversion is a life-long process, and as Church we help each other in various ways. One important way that we recognize and ritualize the merciful forgiveness of God is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Here is a page with a lot of good resources to help you prepare to celebrate (yes, celebrate!) the Sacrament of Reconciliation. If you are looking for some reassurance that God is not a judge or policeman just itching to punish you, please read through the 15th chapter of Luke's Gospel... you'll find a God who loves us so much and is so impatient to forgive us and relieve us of the burdens that we carry around ... and who rejoices when we do take a step towards conversion!

Next Thursday, March 31, we will have a communal reconciliation service at St. Andrew, starting at 7pm. Now, the 'communal' part does not mean that you get up in front of everybody and announce your sins! The communal part means that we come together as the Body of Christ- in recognition that by our sins we have failed to represent the Body of Christ as clearly as we should have, to ask each other for support and prayer and forgiveness as we express our sorrow to God.  So please, come next Thursday. If your children have already received their first reconciliation, help them prepare to celebrate the sacrament again. If they have not yet celebrated this sacrament, have them come and observe, anyway: the example you show by 'saying your sorry' is one that will be planted deep within their own hearts.