Embedded Files
The Story
The Story
Imagine you accidentally broke your neighbor's window with a baseball while playing outside.
Imagine you accidentally broke your neighbor's window with a baseball while playing outside.
You feel terrible about it all afternoon. You sit alone in your room and whisper, "I'm so sorry, God, and I'm so sorry to my neighbor." Asking God for forgiveness in your heart is a great first step!
You feel terrible about it all afternoon. You sit alone in your room and whisper, "I'm so sorry, God, and I'm so sorry to my neighbor." Asking God for forgiveness in your heart is a great first step!
But until you actually walk over, look your neighbor in the eye, say "I'm sorry," and hear him smile and say, "It's okay, I forgive you completely!"—you might keep worrying and wondering if everything is really alright.
But until you actually walk over, look your neighbor in the eye, say "I'm sorry," and hear him smile and say, "It's okay, I forgive you completely!"—you might keep worrying and wondering if everything is really alright.
┌─────────────────────────┐
┌─────────────────────────┐
│ JESUS HAS ALL │
│ JESUS HAS ALL │
│ POWER TO FORGIVE │
│ POWER TO FORGIVE │
└────────────┬────────────┘
└────────────┬────────────┘
│
│
▼
▼
┌─────────────────────────┐
┌─────────────────────────┐
│ EASTER SUNDAY GIFT │
│ EASTER SUNDAY GIFT │
│ Jesus breathed on His │
│ Jesus breathed on His │
│ Apostles & gave them His│
│ Apostles & gave them His│
│ authority to forgive │
│ authority to forgive │
└────────────┬────────────┘
└────────────┬────────────┘
│
│
▼
▼
┌─────────────────────────┐
┌─────────────────────────┐
│ HEARING THE WORDS │
│ HEARING THE WORDS │
│ The priest speaks for │
│ The priest speaks for │
│ Jesus: "I absolve you │
│ Jesus: "I absolve you │
│ from your sins!" │
│ from your sins!" │
└─────────────────────────┘
└─────────────────────────┘
That is why Jesus gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession):
That is why Jesus gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession):
Jesus Breathed His Power: On Easter Sunday night, Jesus breathed on His Apostles and handed them a special mission: "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven."
Jesus Breathed His Power: On Easter Sunday night, Jesus breathed on His Apostles and handed them a special mission: "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven."
His Human Ambassadors: Priests don't forgive sins on their own power or pretend to replace Jesus. They act as Jesus’ trusted ambassadors! Just like a doctor needs to hear where it hurts to help you heal, the priest listens to our sins so he can wrap us in God's love.
His Human Ambassadors: Priests don't forgive sins on their own power or pretend to replace Jesus. They act as Jesus’ trusted ambassadors! Just like a doctor needs to hear where it hurts to help you heal, the priest listens to our sins so he can wrap us in God's love.
Spoken Mercy: When the priest raises his hand and says the prayer of absolution—"I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit"—you don't have to guess or doubt. You get to walk out of church 100% sure that your soul is squeaky clean!
Spoken Mercy: When the priest raises his hand and says the prayer of absolution—"I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit"—you don't have to guess or doubt. You get to walk out of church 100% sure that your soul is squeaky clean!
💬 Talk About It
💬 Talk About It
How does it feel when you say "I'm sorry" out loud to someone you hurt and hear them say "I forgive you"?
How does it feel when you say "I'm sorry" out loud to someone you hurt and hear them say "I forgive you"?
Why is it a comfort to know that priests promise to keep everything we say in Confession a secret forever?
Why is it a comfort to know that priests promise to keep everything we say in Confession a secret forever?
📜 Memory Verse
📜 Memory Verse
"As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." — John 20:21
"As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." — John 20:21
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