“I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said ‘I confess my faults to the Lord,’ and you took away the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32). If you are not willing to acknowledge that you are a sinner you are in the wrong Church. We are a Church of sinners, but we are striv- ing to be saints. We do not love sin; we hate sin but love the sinner that he may acknowledge his sin and be converted. Look back into the history of our first reading, we see King David, God’s chosen, acknowledging his sin of adultery. What does God do? He forgives, because King David acknowl- edges his sin! In our Gospel reading we see the Pharisee unwilling to acknowledge his sin and thus being condemned, however the sinful woman acknowledges her and is forgiven. Many are unwilling to receive the forgiveness of God, they are like the Pharisee saying, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” This is the greatest sin of all not trusting in the mercy of God. God is always ready to forgive, but we must be ready to acknowl- edge our sin and trust in his mercy. The truth is God really can love a bumbling sinful fool such as you.

Put aside your shame; believe in God’s mercy; and ask what areas of your heart need forgiveness. What sins have you not been willing to acknowledge before God? It is about time you acknowledge them and confess in the sacrament of confession, instituted by Christ. You will love much as the woman in the Gospel. For, “the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little,” let us acknowledge our sin with the sinful woman and thus love Christ much.

In the Sacred Heart of Jesus & Immaculate Heart of Mary
Fr. Shaun Haggerty