Jesus entered this world to forgive sins. "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not die but may have eternal life." (Jn 3:16) During His public ministry, Jesus preached about the forgiveness of sins: the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11ff) the Lost Sheep (Lk 15:1ff), and His teaching that "There will likewise be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over 96 righteous people who have no need to repent." (Lk 15:7) Jesus Himself forgave sins: He also taught us to pray for forgiveness in the "Our Father:" "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." His mission of reconciliation would climax in His passion, death and resurrection: Jesus suffered, died and rose to free us from sin and death. Jesus never trivialized sin or rationalized it. For Jesus, sin is sin, a violation of love against God and neighbor. In His divine mercy, Jesus calls the sinner to realize the sin, to repent of it, and to be reconciled with God and neighbor. The more we love the Lord, the more we are aware of the smallest sins and the more we want to say, "I am sorry. Please forgive me."

In confession, God gives us a simple, repeatable, ordinary way of accessing His infinite sea of mercy.

Watch on Formed:  The Mystery of Confession