15: Reconciliation

 

1. Forgiveness

Forgiveness is at the heart of the Christian Gospel. Jesus taught the Lord’s prayer ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ Many of Jesus’ parables were about forgiveness. He was greatly criticised for mixing with sinners, but said ‘those who are not sick do not need a doctor’ and added ‘I came to call sinners’. At the Last Supper Jesus foretold his sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins, and Christians have always seen his death on the Cross and rising to new life as a victory over sin.

 

2. Reconciliation

Forgiveness is a two way process, which is best described as reconciliation. It has four stages: contrition (being truly sorry); confession (admitting faults); absolution (being forgiven); and satisfaction or penance (putting things right). These four stages can be found in many circumstances in life. They are also found in the parable of the Prodigal Son and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Forgiveness is not about letting someone off the hook, or getting away with it. It is a healing of a hurt between two people, or between the Christian and God.

 

3. Sin

Sin is any action or omission which is against God’s will. It is doing the wrong thing. We know that everyone does something wrong at some time – often not on purpose. We also find that there is evil in the world around us. Yet at other times sin can be avoided, though we might do something wrong on purpose.

The Church explains this situation in this way. God wanted the world to be perfect, but from the very earliest time there has been a tendency for people to sin. This is called Original Sin and everyone is born into it. Original sin is washed away in baptism, though it still has effects. When we do something wrong, that is called actual (or personal) sin. But we know that some sins are more serious than others, so the Church says that some actual sins are mortal (or deadly) sins, while others are less serious, called venial sins. A mortal sin has to be (1) a serious matter, committed with (2) full understanding and (3) full consent. If any of these conditions is not present (e.g. not serious, not understanding it was wrong, or not fully agreeing to the action) then it is a venial sin. Most sins are venial.

Venial sins are forgiven by God in prayer or by receiving holy communion. Mortal sins must be brought to confession.

 

4. The Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also known as the Sacrament of Penance or Confession. It is usually celebrated in a small room. The penitent (the person making their confession) may kneel behind a screen or sit on a chair opposite the priest. In confession the penitent confesses to God in the presence of the priest and the priest gives God’s forgiveness. For this reaon confession is absolutely confidential. The priest cannot tell anyone what is said – even if a serious crime has been committed.

 

4. The Order of the Sacrament

The Sacrament follows this order:

In danger of death, the ceremony can be shortened. At important times of the year, large services are often organised for penitents to prepare themselves together for the sacrament.

 

5. The Importance of the Sacrament

The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus founded the sacrament or reconciliation when he died on the cross and also when he breathed on his apostles after the resurrection and told them to forgive sins in his name. Confession should be a joyful celebration, then, because God gives forgiveness.

The Catholic Church says that every Catholic should go to confession as soon as possible when they know they have committed a mortal sin. Some Catholics go often – once a month or even weekly. Many go only before Christmas and Easter and some other times in the year. Catholics believe the sacrament is important because

 


6. Crime

A crime is committed when someone breaks the law of the society they live in. Not all sins are crimes – for instance deliberate unkindness is sinful, but not against the law! Also, although Christians would normally try to obey the law, not all laws are good, and in some cases it may even be right to break the law (e.g. if the law treats people unequally).

Most crime is the result of sin and is very damaging to society. Christians see crime as spoilingthe quality of life and going against the dignity and rights of people who are made in the image of God.

 

7. Punishment

When laws are broken society must act. Action taken against a law breaker is usually a form of punishment. Punishment has several purposes – to protect the law abiding, to take just revenge, to act as a deterrent, or to reform.

Christians accept the need for all of these, but prefer to keep the possibility of reform open, if this is possible.

Jesus told his hearers not to take revenge but to pray for their enemies. He spoke against the saying ‘an eye for an eye’, and when he was asked to approve the death penalty on a woman caught in adultery, he invited ‘the one without sin to cast the first stone’. This prevented the penalty being carried out.

In general, Christians would expect punishments to protect society, encourage reform, be appropriate for the crime that was committed and to treat the criminal with human dignity.

 

8. Capital Punishment

Some people favour capital punishment (the death penalty). The believe that those who take a life should give their lives, that it is an effective deterrent, and that society is protected from murderers if they are executed.

Others point out that most murderers kill close family members and are very unlikely to repeat the crime, and that societies which have the death penalty also tend to have the highest murder rates. Also there have been many famous cases of the wrong person being convicted of murder.

Christians would also add that the death penalty removes any chance of reform. Jesus refused to approves the stoning to death of a woman caught in adultery (mentioned above). The Catechism of the Catholic Church accepts that the death penalty may be used by the state but says that it is hardly ever necessary, and Pope John Paul II has spoken out very forcefully against capital punishment.

 

9. Prejudice and Discrimination

Prejudice is forming a judgment about someone before the facts are known. Discrimination is acting upon that judgment to treat someone unfairly. Examples of prejudice are racism and sexism. It can also be based on age and wealth. Often prejudice is unthinking and not deliberate. When an organisation has practices which tend to treat a racial group less well, even if it is not deliberate, this is called ‘institutional racism’.

Jesus treated all people with kindness, especially outcasts of society – sinners, prostitutes, tax-collectors. He spoke to Samaritans, who Jews hated, and even told the parable of Good Samaritan, which put the Samaritan as an example to be followed. St James, in his letter, speaks strongly against any favouritism on the basis of wealth.

 

10. The Just War

War can never be a good thing. People die and property is destroyed. Christians would want to avoid war if at all possible. However, Christians have long realised that sometimes war might be the only way for an injustice to be overcome or resisted.

The Catholic Church developed the idea of a ‘Just War’. This is a War which could be justified. Even so, it might not be necessary, but Christians could take part with a clear conscience. There are six conditions:

The Church has always felt able to send chaplains to accompany troops and followers of Jesus included solidiers.

 

11. Peace and pacifism

Though war might sometimes be unavoidable, all Christians would prefer a just and lasting peace rather than bloodshed. Through the centuries, Christians have worked hard to end war and to stop suffering.

Some Christians are pacifists and believe that war can never be right. They point out that the conditions for a just war are almost impossible to meet, especially in modern warfare. They also note that Jesus did not lead an army, that although he was called Messiah, he was not a military leader. He stopped his disciples fighting in the Garden of Gethsemane when he was arrested and said ‘those who live by the sword die by the sword.’ He also said ‘Love your enemies’.

 

12. Key Passages

References you need to know for this section:

Respect for all people James 2: 1-9

The forgiving father Lk 15: 11-32

 

References you need to read for this section:

The paralysed man Mk 2: 1-12

The centurions servant Lk 7: 1-10

The practice of justice and reconciliation Philemon