Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. Part of today's Gospel reading from John 20 can help us with this concept.
After the resurrection, Jesus says to the Apostles, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." With this Jesus gave our priests the power and authority to forgive (absolve) sins. This is the basis for the Sacrament of Confession.
Today we focus on God's mercy. What greater mercy is there than forgiving one's sins? This is why God, in his great mercy, has given us the Sacrament of Confession (also called Penance or Reconciliation.) When we repent, confess and hear those words of absolution, we are assured of Divine Mercy.
Father, we thank you for your mercy. As we pray in the Our Father, may we have mercy and forgive others as you forgive us through your mercy. Amen.
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