This magnificent season of Lent is a time of repentance. We are called to intensify our life-long project of seeking to live according to God’s will. 

 

To do so we must ask for His pardon for the times when we have not done so.

 

Lent is so necessary precisely because in our brokenness it is difficult to acknowledge and to renounce our sins. Still, it is possible to find once more the peace and pardon that comes from changing our hearts and receiving God’s forgiveness.

 

We are given a vivid example of the struggle to give our lives to Jesus in the Gospel accounts of Holy Thursday night. We find that illustrated in the contrast between Peter and Judas.

 

Judas was of course one of the 12 chosen Apostles. He along with the others walked the hills of Galilee with Jesus and spent countless private hours at His side. However, for whatever reason flowing from the mysterium iniquitatis (the mystery of evil), Judas had not given his life to Jesus and His love. He had allowed sin to keep him apart from that love.

 

At the critical moment, Judas betrays the Son of God. He takes money for the life of Jesus and then identifies Him for the crowd by a kiss, the normal indication of love and respect.

 

Still there is something in Judas that even at that late moment was not yet lost. After watching Jesus being beaten and then condemned to death, Judas’ conscience protests. He returns to the chief priests and elders repenting of his betrayal, returning the blood money and confessing his sin.

 

But something is still missing. Judas does not have the trust to turn back to Jesus. Perhaps he is too ashamed. Maybe he feels his sin is too great. For whatever reason, sin devours his hope and he hangs himself in despair.

 

Peter of course is also an Apostle. He has also spent time with His Lord as the Gospels amply tell us. His love for Jesus is real. But as we know, at the critical moment, perhaps out of fear, perhaps out of his own lack of complete trust, Peter denies that he even knows or has met Jesus. Like Judas, he finds himself standing apart from Christ.

 

Peter’s conscience, like that of Judas, protests. But here is the difference. Peter directs his conscience to the One who can forgive, who can heal him and ultimately give him back the peace lost by sin. His tears flow and he resolves to turn back to God.

 

Each of us has the same fundamental choice to make. Because we are all sinners, the choice is to leave our sins behind and turn back to Jesus, or not. We too, are invited to seek renewed peace for our souls.

This coming Wednesday, throughout the Diocese of Rockford, we will celebrate, for the fifth consecutive year, Be Reconciled Day. From 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. confessions will be heard continually in our parish churches. (Check your local parish or http://be-reconciled.rockforddiocese.org for precise times and details.)

 

The presence of our priests hearing confessions throughout the day is so that it is easier for you to make the choice of Peter this Lent. Each of us should bring our conscience to Christ, turning back to Him through a good confession. The priests will be waiting and I personally invite you to come to a parish near you.

 

The mercy of God invites us, like Peter, to change our hearts and weep for our sins. Then we can present them to Christ. On Wednesday, come back to Christ, especially if it has been many years since your last confession. 

 

Let this Lent be the time to seek that peace and that freedom from guilt. Come to Be Reconciled.