Reconciliation

Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from April 01, 2007

"..and I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has conferred one on me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.." Luke 22:29,30

The reading of the Passion brings up the question: Why?

How do we find purpose in our own hurts and suffering? How do we make sense of the death, violence, cruelty and torture inflicted on others? How do we understand the crucifixion of Jesus?

Let us spend Holy Week meditating on these questions.

Jesus did not enter Jerusalem on a chariot or on a war horse. He rode into his capital city on a donkey. God became vulnerable.

Reconciliation.

The father of the prodigal son was extravagant in his forgiveness. Long before the son could 'tell his sins', the father ran to meet him, kissed him and put a robe on his shoulders. He would kill the fatted calf for a party.

We focus too much on our sins. We make an idol of our past. We call the Sacrament of Forgiveness, "Confession". Let us change the emphasis to God's mercy and love. Our trouble is that we do not know how to forgive ourselves. That is why we have this sacrament; to reassure us of God's unconditional acceptance..