Saturday April 6th: Bruv, Seeing is Believing!
April 6, 2024
Monday April 8th: A calling from God
April 8, 2024

Sunday April 7th: A transformative act

Divine Mercy Sunday

“If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.”

John 20:19-31

Our priests, acting in persona Christi, through the sacrament of reconciliation exercise this authority to reconcile us with God, thereby participating in the ministry of Jesus by offering the mercy and grace of God to us. In confession, forgiveness is not merely a human act but a sacramental encounter with the Divine.

The words, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained,” also encourage profound reflection on the power and responsibility of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a transformative act, offering liberation to both the forgiven and the forgiver.

It gives us a choice to either release ourselves from the burden of resentment and animosity and foster healing and reconciliation, or conversely, withholding forgiveness can perpetuate cycles of pain and bitterness, binding both parties in negativity.
When God is merciful to us, it restores our souls, and so, we too, through his words, ‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you’, filled with his Holy Spirit, should recognise the power of forgiveness in a world marked by brokenness and strife.