The Two Things that Keep Us from Confession

During Lent Catholics are encouraged to go to Confession and many Dioceses even offer a 'Day of Reconciliation/Penance." There are really only two things that keep us away from this beautiful Sacrament: the sins of presumption and despair.

Theses sins are opposite sides of the same coin with their roots in pride.

In the first, presumption, we convince ourselves that since God is merciful He will look past our sins. The reasoning is expressed as, "I don't think God will really send me to hell for _____." Or we say, "_____is not that important, God loves me, He won't care." In this we way presume upon God's mercy without any real change or contrition on our part. We are trying to make God in our image (or idea of what we think He should be) rather than who He is.

The second, despair, is the wrong thinking that we are so sinful that God couldn't possibly forgive us for what we have done. To me, this is the sadder of the two ideas. God is, well... God!! He already knows what we have done and He is waiting with open arms to welcome us back.

Please, Dear Reader, pray about going to Confession. Ask the Lord to send the Holy Spirit to show reveal yours sins to you and to grant you the grace to overcome any fear you may be experiencing. Please pray the same for me as well. God bless you.