Who Can Forgive Our Sins?

by Brandon Jubar

It's a question that tends to confuse many Catholics today. Why must I confess my sins to a priest when I can simply pray to God and ask Him for forgiveness? The question stems from the "understanding" that God loves us all and is a kind, forgiving God. But rather than simply argue what we believe to be the logic or illogic of the Sacrament, perhaps it's best to start by looking a little deeper and get a glimpse of the whole picture.

Christ Taught What Is Necessary

Jesus came to us as God incarnate, and brought fulfillment to the Old Covenant. The New Covenant, which is Christianity, completed the Faith. Jesus also established his Church in order to pass on his teachings, intact, until he comes again. This Church -- the Catholic Church -- is empowered to do many things on earth, including ministering the sacraments.

Jesus did not give us unnecessary teachings or sacraments. He only instituted those that are necessary. And he specifically instituted the sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as penance or confession.

"Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 18:18 NAB)

Christ instituted the sacrament of Reconciliation as the means by which one's sins could be forgiven. The apostles and, through apostolic succession, the bishops and their helpers (the priests), were given the power to forgive sins. If this were not needed, then Jesus would not have instituted it.

The First Sacrament After the Resurrection

The Gospel of John tells of how Christ came and stood in the midst of the Apostles.

(Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (John 20:21-23 NAB)

Thus it was that the sacrament of Reconciliation as the way by which people could obtain forgiveness for sin was the very first thing Christ established after His resurrection!

Jesus died to redeem us from sin. It makes perfect sense that he would quickly provide the means for the forgiveness of each person's sins.

The Priest Represents God

It is generally true that sins are forgiven when you sincerely repent and pray for forgiveness. But when we confess to God privately, rather than to a fellow person who can look us in the eye, it is sometimes easier to pretend to be sorry. We become almost attached to our sins, and begin to justify them in our own minds. Once we have begun to make excuses and justify our wrongdoing, it becomes difficult to truly experience sorrow. And sins cannot be forgiven unless we really are sorry.

When we participate in the sacrament of Reconciliation, we are not confessing our sins to a priest instead of confessing them to God. On the contrary, we are confessing them to a priest because he represents God.

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed." (James 5:16 NAB).

Only God can forgive sins. Therefore Jesus can forgive sins. And because of his divine authority, he is able to give this power of forgiveness to men, that they may exercise it on his behalf (CCC 1441). Christ has specifically granted the power of absolution to the apostolic ministry.

"And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation..." (2 Corinthians 5:18 NAB)

And that is why, after we have confessed our sins to the priest and received our penance, the prayer of absolution the priest prays says, "I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

It is in God's name that the priest forgives, not in his own name. When we receive the sacrament of Reconciliation, we are being forgiven by God, and reconciled with Him and His Church.

Life Applications:

How often to you go to Reconciliation?

How often do you think you should go?

How do you feel after being absolved of your sins?

Copyright 2003 by Brandon Jubar 
All rights reserved.