WEEK 13: “Confession Talk to Children”
If you have never sinned then you can never call Jesus your Savior. Like a blind man denies that he is blind than how he can know the existence of light. Sin is not the worst, but denying sin is the diabolical thing to do, since it perpetually prevents unification with our Lord Jesus Christ.
listen
think
Every person sins, and whoever denies that he has sinned will manifest that into guilt. This guilt does not always come right away after sin, but the more sins are repressed, the stronger the pain of guilt that will take place. The effect of sin is like breaking a bone, it damages and cripples you. The only way to remedy sin is through confession where the casting off and the healing from the effects of sin takes place. After this healing process is passed, the person must do penance, which is like regaining the limb’s strength to reduce the possibility of breaking it again.
Another thing to ponder about sin is that sin will always remain in the person, and only through sacramental confession can sin be forgiven by God and taken away. The effects of sin will still remain, but confession will give the person a fresh start to regain the favor of God through God’s own mercy towards our repentance.
Furthermore, we must also be sincere in changing our life and turning away from sin. Prior to confession, we must thoroughly examine our conscience and understand that the sins that we committed separate us from Lord God and through reconciliation we are given a clean conscience. God’s mercy is infinite but we are finite beings, God requires us to participate in salvation; God does not impose His will upon us. Sin will always be inevitable if we act according to our temptations and do not cleanse our souls of past evil.
pray
Psalm 51
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love;
according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned,
and done that which is evil in thy sight,
so that thou art justified in thy sentence
and blameless in thy judgment.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Fill[b] me with joy and gladness;
let the bones which thou hast broken rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right[c] spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence,
and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of thy salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors thy ways,
and sinners will return to thee.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness,[d] O God,
thou God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of thy deliverance.
O Lord, open thou my lips,
and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
For thou hast no delight in sacrifice;
were I to give a burnt offering, thou wouldst not be pleased.
The sacrifice acceptable to God[e] is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Do good to Zion in thy good pleasure;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
then wilt thou delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on thy altar.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever, Aneb
Our Father… (Pater Noster)
May the Lord bless us and keep us through time and eternity. Amen
Resources
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2051&version=RSVCE
“A Beginners Book of Prayer” Compiled by William G. Storey, published by Loyola Press (Pg. 27, 28 & 11).
act
- How long has it been since your last confession? Try to go to confession within this week. Be sincere and show the nakedness of your soul to our Lord and do not hold back anything.
- Try to set a certain day to go to confession either once a month, every 2 weeks or once a week. Confession is a gift that you should take advantage with proper intent. Take confession seriously.
- Do a quick reflection of conscience at the end of your day and say the Act of Contrition afterward.
Meet Isaac, Our Spiritual Guide for these Reflections
My name is Isaac Padriga. I was born in the Philippines and came to the states in 2006. One of my favorite daily activities is practicing filipino martial arts or Eskrima (fencing). It is basically shadow boxing with a stick 🙂 I enjoy the thoughtless flow of motion while performing and executing the various movements . My catholic faith is an important aspect of my life for it is the truth, mystery and guidance that helps me navigate through the ongoing uncertainties and challenges of the secular world. I also have two dogs, one mixed maltipoo/shih tzu, named Molly, and a mixed australian shepherd/labrador, named Copper. And finally, I also like to put two shots of espresso in my lemonade. -_-
Cal Poly Pomona Catholic Newman Club 