10th Sunday After Pentecost
Luke 18:9-14
In the Gospel of the Pharisee and the Publican, the key difference is
confession. The Publican confesses his sins while the Pharisee does not.
He praises himself, condemns others and declares that the Publican is a
sinner, unlike himself. The Pharisee sins because he claims he has no
sins.
Confession in a Christian Context (ChatGPT)
A good confession is generally less about saying everything perfectly and more about being honest, sincere, and repentant of all grave sins.
A simple way to prepare is:
-
Examine your conscience.
- Reflect on your thoughts, words, actions, and things you failed to do.
- Consider your relationships with God and other people.
-
Be specific.
- Name all the sins you've committed as clearly as you can.
- If you know the number or frequency of serious sins, mention it as accurately as you reasonably can. Don't worry if you can't remember an exact count.
-
Be honest.
- Avoid minimizing, making excuses, or blaming others.
- At the same time, don't exaggerate or confess things that aren't actually sins just because you feel guilty.
-
Express sorrow.
- Tell God that you are sorry for your sins and want to turn away from them.
-
Have a firm intention to improve.
- You don't have to promise you'll never fail again. Rather, sincerely intend to avoid those sins and the situations that lead to them, the "near occasions" of sin.
In the Catholic Church, a typical confession follows this pattern:
- Greet the priest.
- Say how long it's been since your last confession.
- Confess your sins.
- Listen to any guidance the priest offers.
- Pray an Act of Contrition.
- Receive absolution.
- Complete the penance you are given.
If you're nervous, it's perfectly acceptable to tell the priest, "I'm a little nervous and may need some help." Priests hear confessions regularly and can guide you through the process.
