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Have you ever tried to clean a sidewalk, a driveway, or a concrete patio? Of course, scrubbing and scrubbing with hot water will wipe away some of the dirt, but if you want to restore it to its original whiteness, you need something more. In many cases, a good dose of bleach will do a fine job—and often with far less labor on your part. All you have to do is pour out the cleaning solution and spray it with a blast of water. Then, almost miraculously, the dirt rolls right off, and the concrete is as good as new.
Just as dirt, slime, and oil can accumulate and darken the appearance of a concrete sidewalk, sin covers our souls and darkens them. Yet with the gift of repentance, all that junk can be washed away simply and easily. All we have to do is acknowledge our sins and turn to God in humble, heartfelt repentance. Then his power of forgiveness goes to work, making us as clean as the day we were baptized.
Refreshment, Restoration, and Fruit. When we cry out, like King David, “Have mercy on me, O God,” God responds (Psalm 51:1). When we see our sin and imitate Peter by saying, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8), he doesn’t “depart.” Instead, he begins to work in us, refreshing us, restoring us, and even empowering us to bear godly fruit. In…
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What a beautiful article! Having experienced God’s forgiveness first hand I found this article to be so true. I think we should put more importance to the sacrament of confession (reconciliation). It is the most beautiful one next to the Eucharist. I like the face to face confession because it is so much easier to see Christ in the priest then in the black box of years ago. Confession makes me fly because I am relieved of all the weight of my sins that weigh me down.
Thank You, Lord for your mercy and grace.
Thank You for all Your sacraments to the
Church.
Blessed be God forever, Amen.