Counting each moment of Forgiveness

Counting each moment of Forgiveness 

It may appear to be a waste of time to consider every time we ask and receive the forgiveness of God, but it somehow may slip our thinking when we pray then go on with our daily lives.  Consider the moments when the woman caught in adultery and Jesus passed the test of the Pharisees were completed.  Did she walk away agreeing to do this sin no more?  (Jn 8: 11).

How about the young paralytic whom his friends lowered him through the roof and Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven,”  Although Jesus had him rise and walk, did the first words Jesus spoke to him regarding his forgiveness make a positive reflection on him?  (Mk 2: 1 - 12).

We need to reflect on the scenario that our own forgiveness is apparent and how each of us responds with more than just a quick nod of our head and after an act of Contrition go our way

with a little sense of what just occurred?

With each instance of Jesus forgiving someone and mentioning to go and sin no more, how have we placed ourselves in that same activity and take time to keep the warmth of his concern for our adherence to what he just gave us;  a complete action of mercy without a long arduous penance.  If we went to confession and received absolution the very words from the priest  are the same as what our Lord did for those whom he forgave.  

It is the depth of who Christ is that makes the difference between accepting forgiveness and just going through the motions of his mercy.   We must make a positive movement to ascertain what he meant and did for the people he touched in his ministry. 

 “What he was, he remained and what he was not, he assumed, ”sings the Roman Liturgy.  And the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom proclaims and sings:  “O only-begotten Son and Word of God, immortal being, you who deigned for our salvation to become Incarnate of the Holy Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary, you who without change became man and were crucified, O Christ our God, you who by your death have crushed death, you who are one of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us!  (Liturgy of St. John Chrysotom).  (Taken as a footnote to CCC 469).

It is through much more than going through a prescribed set of words, a memorized reflection so as not to miss what needs to be explained, that is a good confession.  It is a heart that yearns for mercy and a reception from Christ’s mercy that completes a sound relationship of God and his child.  This also is the beginning of true forgiveness and trying to retain a clean soul that places us as the woman in adultery and the young man who was lowered to find Christ. 

Ralph B. Hathaway