March 26, 2012 – Catechism 1420 – 1426

I can see why some people don’t like the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  It is hard to say out loud the sins you have committed.  It is usually something we are not proud of, would rather forget, or not want anyone else to know.  But the fact that it is hard or awkward to do, does that mean that it wasn’t something Christ wanted.  Not at all.  There are many things we are called to do that are not easy or fun, but we don’t deny these.  If God did not want us to say our sins out loud to a someone so that we can be forgiven, why did Christ give the Apostles that power.  John 20:22-23 “And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained."”  This was not said to the crowds, this power was not given to all Christ followers, only to a certain few.  Yes, we are called to forgive those that sin against us, but that is not what Christ is giving here.  He is not talking about specific sins against them, but sins that others will bring to them. 

Ask yourself two questions and whether they make any sense without the Catholic understanding of this Scripture.  Why give them this power if they were not going to hear the sins of people?  How are they going to forgive or retain sins if people don’t confess them out loud.