A s we approach the halfway point of Lent, we do well to think about the central message of this penitential season. That message is that we need to seek the forgiveness of our sins. We need to seek the pardon of God and the pardon of those whom we have offended.

 

While that idea of seeking forgiveness seems simple enough, in fact it has many facets. And we need to fulfill all the conditions if we are to be truly ready to ask for pardon.

 

For example, a true understanding of sin begins with our relation to God. We must recognize that God is calling us not simply to obedience, but to love with Him, to a very personal friendship. 

 

This is important because our every sin is first and foremost a rejection, whether large or small, of the love of God. That rejection is, in fact, an act of rebellion on our part against the One who seeks such a personal love with us.

 

But because He is infinitely good, no evil or variance with His goodness can be in His presence. Therefore, every sin we commit must be forgiven for us to be in God’s loving presence in heaven.

 

We need, then, first to admit to and accept responsibility for all of our sins. That means we must look not only at our external actions against the Ten Commandments and against the moral teachings of our Catholic faith. We need as well to look at the status of our hearts, which can also be infected by evil.

 

We pray in the Confiteor at Mass that we have sinned, “... in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do.” How important it is during Lent to check our thoughts, words, actions and inactions against the love of God. Such a review must go deep into our consciences but so does God’s love and His pardon.

 

Jesus has also told us we must imitate God in our lives. “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions” (Mt. 6:14-15).

 

God desires that we imitate Him by making Lent a time for us to reconcile with our brothers and sisters. This is a growing need in our angry and polarized society. Increasingly, we are told that justice, and especially social justice, can be brought about only by gaining power and implementing policies. But nowhere is there any role recognized for forgiveness and reconciliation as part of justice. Lent reminds us that without forgiveness, reconciliation will not occur.

 

The same holds true in modern family life. One of the great tragedies of our time is the high rate of divorce and of family breakups. And often, those fractures result in anger and need for forgiveness that goes unaddressed. Lent is a time to examine our hearts to ask whom we need to forgive. Then we need to pray for the grace to overcome our hurt or anger, and reach out for reconciliation.

 

As always, don’t forget that Be Reconciled Day is Wednesday, March 24. Our parishes throughout the diocese will be hearing confessions from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Check your parish for specific times and details.

 

It is in the sacrament of confession that Christ promises His forgiveness. Especially if it has been years or if you are nervous about confessing, now is the time. Please come and make a good confession so that this Lent will truly be a moment of God’s forgiveness.