Today we begin the season of Lent, a time of penance. While it can be uncomfortable to think about our sins, Alex Hale, SJ, reminds us that this is also an opportunity to experience the great love and mercy of God. Based on the readings for Ash Wednesday.
Are we ready to talk about sin and repentance?
Sin is not a fun thing to talk about. There are many of us who live with a constant feeling of shame and guilt for our actions. Often this can lead some of us to believe that God would never want to be close to us. Yet, if we don’t address our sins and bring those to God, we can never experience how much God really loves us.
Additionally, if we think our guilt is so massive that God can never forgive us, we also refuse to see ourselves the way God sees us. Repenting and believing in the Gospel is challenging, but it is worth it.
God’s call for us to stop sinning is not because he wants to create arbitrary rules to follow, but rather because he wants us to be truly free and happy. When we admit our faults, then God will truly look on us with mercy and love.
