The WORD in other words (2022) by Fr. Patricio de los Reyes, SVD – Holy Name University, Tagbiliran City
Friday 26th Week in Ordinary Time
Every time I celebrate Mass with a community of religious sisters in my last mission assignment before coming to Bohol, the nuns would always make their confession before the celebration of the Eucharist. I realized that they make their confession every week. I was always overwhelmed by this act of humility.
Whether the nuns were just following an institutional rule or a personal choice, all the same, their weekly act of reconciling with God and neighbor was for me a readiness for the Judgment to come and an openness to receive the Messiah and the One who sent him.
Daily or weekly repentance of sins? Can we also practice this? Of course, we can, and I believe we ought to be mindful daily of our weaknesses, failures, mistakes, and sinfulness and to constantly be conscious of the presence of the Messiah who came to bestow on us the compassion and forgiveness of God.
To be ready for the Judgment, we need to humbly recognize and accept our sinfulness and ask God’s forgiveness, accept Jesus the Christ who brought God’s forgiveness to us, and model our lives according to God’s will and follow the path of the Gospel Jesus showed us.
