Necessity
After the fall, no one should feel excluded from the pardon. It is a truth that resonates in the imperious John's Gospel, where, in the episode of adultery, it is written: "Which of you is without sin cast the first stone at her ... but those who heard it, he went out one by one, beginning with the elders.
(Jn 8, 7-9).
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Necessity of confession
How serious the sin upon us, it shows very well the beloved evangelist. Jesus replied: "Truly, truly, I say everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. If the Son makes you free, be free indeed. If you do not believe that I am, you will die in your sins." (Jn 8, 24 ff.) The man his sin imposes slavery and kills the soul, so if you want to live, we must urgently draw close to Jesus.
There is in this regard to listen to the voice of Jesus: I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5, 32). Continue the Apostle Peter, therefore repent and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out.
(Acts 3:19).
What is easier: to say, "Your sins are forgiven you, or say, 'Rise and walk? Now you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, I say - He said to the paralytic - stand up, take your mat and go home" (Luke 5, 23). This witness also reported the prophets: "whoever believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." (Acts 10, 43).
Jesus extended this power to the Apostles: "Having said this, he breathed on them and said," Receive the Holy Spirit: whose sins are forgiven and who does not forgive them, they are retained".
(Jn 20, 22-23).
Jesus himself shows us how to ask for forgiveness. And the publican, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying: "O God, have mercy on me a sinner. I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the He who exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted".
(Lk 18, 13-14).
Forgiveness is sought then the awareness of one's sins. On the surface it all seems very easy, but pride lies in wait to prevent us from revealing our faults. Will do everything to conceal our forgetfulness, or we will evaluate them with too much indulgence, overturns on the next responsibility of our actions wrong, that prevent us from discovering our misery.
The humble, by contrast, will immediately understand its weaknesses and rely on God, my heart saddened cry to heaven, oh God have mercy on me a sinner. The Father of Mercy grant to this sorry son, beyond all human expectation, his forgiveness.
The evangelist Luke tells us the joy of God in front of each conversion, "so I tell you, there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance".
(Lk 15, 7).
It also shows in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican, which specifies that one should not ask God with pride and arrogance, "he returned to his house justified rather than the other. The more the Pharisee prayed standing (Pride ). O God, I thank you that I am not like other men, thieves, unjust, adulterers. I fast twice a week and pay my tithes. " (Lk 18: 11 ff). The latter come home without having obtained forgiveness. Should be cause for reflection for us and for our behavior, because only after they became aware of the seriousness of sin is possible to say: Have mercy on me a sinner.
Humility is thus a necessary condition for forgiveness, but to get the forgiveness must forgive others. Jesus says: "when you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." (Mk 11, 25).
When asked of Peter: "Lord, how often must I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?". Jesus replied, "I do not say up to seven, but seventy times seven".
(Mt 18, 21-22).
