The Music of Christmas: Heaven Meets Earth in Holy Sign
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Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
When I declared not my sin, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”;
then you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Psalm 32:1–5
One of the most overwhelming struggles for us to overcome is the shame of past mistakes. When we fail, when we sin, and when we hurt others in the process, it can become an extremely painful part of our lives. It can grow into a spiritual cancer that troubles our souls and affects our bodies, bringing doubt and fear into our lives and keeping us from acting to carry out our godly goals. It can lead us to live secret, double lives, where we hide our guilt from others for fear of being found out.
The answer to our shame comes straight from the cross.
Because of the sacrifice of Christ, we can come boldly before the throne of grace to receive God’s mercy (Heb 4:16). We can be set free to live a life of service and love to others, becoming living signs of the power of Christ to change sinners’ hearts. Shame is removed and courage and determination guide our lives as we walk the journey of faith renewed and energized for service.
This week, we will focus on forgiveness in Christ and its power to free us from shame so that we can become productive, powerful, and persevering witnesses of the Kingdom of God to all those we meet. We will consider these five ideas:
1. To be forgiven is to be blessed.
The word for “blessed,” makarios1 in Greek (See Mt 5:3–10), refers to the kind of happiness we experience when we rest contented in the arms of God.4 When we are forgiven, the great weight and burden of our sin is removed and we are set free to soar to the heights of heaven. Those around us see the change in us, our joy and contentment, and they are drawn to discover the source of our salvation.
2. Forgiveness restores us to purity.
When we are forgiven we are cleansed, washed clean, and made whole. We stand before God in truth, and there is no obstacle of deceit to hinder us from experiencing God’s presence more fully. A pure heart stands before the throne of God and points others to the cleansing power of God’s forgiveness freely offered to all who seek it.
3. Hiding and holding onto sin crushes our bodies and our spirits.
The mind/body/soul connection becomes very apparent when sin has a hold on us. It can manifest itself in emotional and physical symptoms, hinder our prayer life, and make us inactive in our walk with God. It destroys our witness by filling us with doubt and despair and keeping us from seeking intimacy with God and others.
4. Confession leads to cleansing.
In the act of confessing our sins, we allow the cleansing touch of God’s love into our lives. We are set free. As we release our burdens, God fills our emptiness with his freeing love. Those who have been filled with the forgiving love of Christ overflow with that love into the lives of others, drawing them into a closer relationship with the source of our forgiveness.
5. We put off shame and put on a garment of praise, peace, and power.
When we choose to live in the grace that comes from the cross, we put on the clothing of Christ, the love that binds us to him and to one another in perfection and grace (Col 3:14). We spread the Gospel of grace as we grow in unity and intimacy with one another, building one another up and becoming who we were meant to be in Christ.
A Call to Action
Shame stifles our faith. God’s healing grace, which comes through the sacraments, especially Confession, cleanses us and gives us the strength to move on. This week, pledge to begin moving from the shame of sin to find a fresh start. Take time to go to Confession and receive forgiveness from your Father in heaven. Find a brother you trust, with whom you can share your struggles. Be prepared to support your brother in his struggles as well.
Let the healing you receive transform you and allow you to bring healing to others as you live out the truth that the past can be left behind. Many are caught in the grip of secret sin hidden away in a broken heart. We who were once lost and are now freed from shame can be powerful witnesses to those who are still trapped in darkness. The light of the forgiveness we have received will guide those searching for a way out of their painful past.
Recognizing our need for God in the midst of our shame, and finding forgiveness and freedom through Christ, sends us forth to continue the journey of salvation with a renewed heart. We are never more powerful as witnesses than when we have surrendered our shame, let go of our selfishness, and committed our life to the One who cleanses us and sets us free. A changed life stands out because it shows how God can take the worst sin and cast it away as he transforms the sinner into a person after his own heart, one who is ready and willing to shine as a light in a darkened world.
1. From the Ignatius Study Bible, “Word Study: Blessed,” Matthew 5:3–10.
You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE
Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.
