Having been a teacher for many years, there are certain questions about the faith that come up frequently. This is especially true with students coming from diverse backgrounds and faiths. 

 

One very common question (both from Catholic and non-Catholic students) is about the sacrament of reconciliation. It’s usually phrased like this, “Why should I confess my sins to a priest? Can’t I just go straight to God?” 

 

It’s a fair question to be sure, especially since we believe that God and only God forgives sin. But it is also a question that provides a great opportunity for someone to understand both how Catholics see sin and the unique gift the sacrament of reconciliation offers. 

 

Many people think sin is primarily about breaking some sort of divine rule. But a far more complete understanding of sin has to do with the idea of relationships. We are each in relationship with God, with others (the community), and properly understood, with ourselves. All sin in some way harms these three relationships. 

 

I can’t be in a good relationship with someone if I do things that ultimately become an obstacle to that relationship. For example, if I lie to people, then having trusting relationships with others either won’t happen or will be exceedingly difficult. 

 

In our relationship with God it presents a problem not just because of the Eighth Commandment, but also because I’ve chosen against the truth — and if God is the source of all truth, then I’ve also chosen against Him. 

 

But in this I’ve also chosen against myself. I have the ability to be truthful; I am made for the truth; I can only be my best self if I live in the truth. Therefore, to choose something other than the truth becomes an obstacle in me becoming who I was made to be and who I have the potential to be. 

 

While this example of lying may be an easier one to grasp regarding how sin affects these three relationships, if we were to look at any sin, we would discover the same dynamic at work. This being said, perhaps we can begin to see reconciliation in a different light. Even though it is commonly called  “confession” the more accurate term is to call it reconciliation since that is really what it exists for and what it brings about. 

 

Much more could be said about that word alone, but for purposes here we can simply understand it as that act of reestablishing, restoring, reuniting or even making whole again. 

 

One thing which is easily overlooked about reconciliation is that each of these relationships is accounted for. What do I mean? 

 

The priest is in a unique situation. He has been entrusted with the “ministry of reconciliation” that Jesus gave to His Apostles and through which God’s forgiveness is offered (2 Cor 5:18, John 20:22-23). The priest, as it were, becomes the instrument through whom God’s words of forgiveness are spoken to the person needing forgiveness. 

 

But the priest also represents the community as a whole. Therefore, he offers a restoration in the community’s name as well, welcoming the person back into communion with other members of the Church. 

 

Finally, the act of holding oneself accountable, admitting the wrong we’ve done and seeking forgiveness, brings about a certain healing within the penitent. 

 

From a purely human standpoint, telling another person what we’ve done requires great humility, and humility is essential in any progress toward holiness. It can also have a cathartic effect that helps us accept God’s forgiveness. 

 

This last part can be incredibly necessary in a person’s healing. So much so that even people who are not Catholic will sometimes come to reconciliation simply because they know they can admit what they’ve done to another human being, hear that God loves them, and do so confidentially. Far from being unnecessary, reconciliation can bring God’s healing to every relationship sin can damage.