©2025 Victor R. Claveau, MJ
Throughout his public life, Christ proclaimed the mercy of God toward sinners. He had come, he said, to preach the good news of salvation and deliverance from sin. Publicans and prostitutes will reach the kingdom of God before high priests and elders of the people. There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine just that have no need of repentance. Three whole parables—of the lost sheep, of the lost drachma, and of the prodigal son—tell of God’s fatherly love and of his divine solicitude for those who invoke his mercy. God is ever ready to extend his mercy, but we have to do our part.
Repentance is necessary. The Bible is replete with references that link repentance and forgiveness, i.e., “Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations (Lk 24:47) Notice that repentance always comes before forgiveness. Repentance is to sin as appropriate treatment is to disease.
Restitution is necessary. God forgave Adam and Eve for their sin, but did not restore them to the Garden, they lived a life of hardship to make up for the sin committed. King David repented the killing of Uriah the Hittite, but God took the life of David’s first-born in recompense for the sin.
Penance is necessary. Penance is likewise reconciliation with God and with the Church. The essence of true penance is interior change of heart, from unruly attachment to creatures to a love of the Creator. Whatever helps in this conversion is penitential and truly pleasing to God.
Conversion is necessary. Apathy and indifference, coupled with self-righteous immersion in the things of this world, are formidable obstacles to conversion. Friendship with God must be reestablished by a sincere conversion of heart.
The power to forgive sins belongs to God alone, and hence Christ’s claim of this power for Himself and His vindication of that claim by a miracle is a proof of His divinity (Mark 2:6 ff.). This power to forgive sins Christ delegated to His Apostles (John 20:23), thereby, instituting the Sacrament of Penance, in which this same power to forgive sins continues to be exercised by the priests of His Church.