Lenten Journey 2011 - March 1, 2011 - Presenter: Fr. Antonio O Moreno - Week 5: God's Mercy and Hope
(Received in email)
Opening prayer/ Psalm 130
“If you, O Lord should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But with you is found forgiveness, that you may be revered” Psalm 130: 3-4
St. Mark 2: 1-2 (forgiveness and healing of the paralytic)
Those that Jesus Heals receive God’s hope and mercy
Through the sacraments of Christian initiation we receive the new life of Christ. But the weakness of human nature and our inclination to sin continues to remain and affect our lives. The Catholic Church offers us the sacraments of healing to assist in our daily journeys of conversion and reconciliation.
During his earthy ministry, Jesus forgave sins and healed those who were physically and spiritually broken. Those he forgave were healed, renewed in faith and restored to health of mind and body. The Church continues even today, in the power of the Holy Spirit, the healing work of Jesus Christ. This is the purpose of the two sacraments of healing: the sacrament of Penance and the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
CCC 1443-14445 When Jesus forgave sins he also pointed to its effects: the reconciliation of sinners with God and with the community of believers. He gave the apostles his own power to forgive sins and the power to reconcile sinners to God and to the Church.
CCC 1430-1433 Only God forgives sins. Jesus willed that the Church be the sign and instrument of forgiveness and reconciliation he won for us on the cross with his blood. He entrusted the power of absolution to the apostles and instituted the sacrament of Penance by which the baptized are offered a new possibility of conversion, forgiveness and healing.
Interior repentance is a radical, reorientation of our whole life, a return to God with all our heart, a turning away, from sin and the resolution of change one’s life with hope in God’s mercy and grace.
CCC 1466-1467 The Sacrament comprises two essential elements: the action of the penitent who undergoes conversion, in the Holy Spirit, namely contrition, confession and penance; and God’s action through the Church’s mediation. Penance is a liturgical action (CCC 1480-1484).
The “confessor” (priest) is not the master of God’s forgiveness but the servant. He forgives sin in the name of Jesus Christ so that when he says, “I absolve you,” the “I” is that of Christ. The “sacramental seal” of penance means that every priest who hears confessions is bound to keep absolute secrecy regarding the sins confessed to him. What the penitent has made known to the priest remains “sealed” by the sacrament
CCC 1468-1470 The sacrament of Reconciliation restores us to God’s grace and friendship, and reconciled us with the Church.
CCC 1484 Individual confession and absolution is the ordinary way for the faithful to be reconciled to God, the church and one another.
The Sacrament of Anointing
CCC 1499-1532 The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick strengthens the baptized when they experience grave illness or old age. The sacrament unites the sick person to the suffering of Christ and strengthens them to endure the sufferings of illness or old age.
The celebration of the Anointing of the Sick consists in the anointing of the forehead and hands of the sick person accompanied with a liturgical prayer asking graces of strength, peace and courage.
Pope John Paul II, Reconciliation and Penance 1984, “Presbyterorum Ordinis, Christus Dominus” and “Gaudium et Spes” article 47-52 (The Dignity or Marriage and the Family)
Pope John Paul II, I will Give you Shepherds, “Pastores Dabo Vobis”, 1992
Knights of Columbus Bible Study
Tuesday 7:00 p.m.
K. C. Hall Hwy 90 - Del Rio, Texas
“If you, O Lord should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But with you is found forgiveness, that you may be revered” Psalm 130: 3-4
St. Mark 2: 1-2 (forgiveness and healing of the paralytic)
Those that Jesus Heals receive God’s hope and mercy
Through the sacraments of Christian initiation we receive the new life of Christ. But the weakness of human nature and our inclination to sin continues to remain and affect our lives. The Catholic Church offers us the sacraments of healing to assist in our daily journeys of conversion and reconciliation.
During his earthy ministry, Jesus forgave sins and healed those who were physically and spiritually broken. Those he forgave were healed, renewed in faith and restored to health of mind and body. The Church continues even today, in the power of the Holy Spirit, the healing work of Jesus Christ. This is the purpose of the two sacraments of healing: the sacrament of Penance and the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
CCC 1443-14445 When Jesus forgave sins he also pointed to its effects: the reconciliation of sinners with God and with the community of believers. He gave the apostles his own power to forgive sins and the power to reconcile sinners to God and to the Church.
CCC 1430-1433 Only God forgives sins. Jesus willed that the Church be the sign and instrument of forgiveness and reconciliation he won for us on the cross with his blood. He entrusted the power of absolution to the apostles and instituted the sacrament of Penance by which the baptized are offered a new possibility of conversion, forgiveness and healing.
Interior repentance is a radical, reorientation of our whole life, a return to God with all our heart, a turning away, from sin and the resolution of change one’s life with hope in God’s mercy and grace.
CCC 1466-1467 The Sacrament comprises two essential elements: the action of the penitent who undergoes conversion, in the Holy Spirit, namely contrition, confession and penance; and God’s action through the Church’s mediation. Penance is a liturgical action (CCC 1480-1484).
The “confessor” (priest) is not the master of God’s forgiveness but the servant. He forgives sin in the name of Jesus Christ so that when he says, “I absolve you,” the “I” is that of Christ. The “sacramental seal” of penance means that every priest who hears confessions is bound to keep absolute secrecy regarding the sins confessed to him. What the penitent has made known to the priest remains “sealed” by the sacrament
CCC 1468-1470 The sacrament of Reconciliation restores us to God’s grace and friendship, and reconciled us with the Church.
CCC 1484 Individual confession and absolution is the ordinary way for the faithful to be reconciled to God, the church and one another.
The Sacrament of Anointing
CCC 1499-1532 The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick strengthens the baptized when they experience grave illness or old age. The sacrament unites the sick person to the suffering of Christ and strengthens them to endure the sufferings of illness or old age.
The celebration of the Anointing of the Sick consists in the anointing of the forehead and hands of the sick person accompanied with a liturgical prayer asking graces of strength, peace and courage.
Scripture for meditation
Reconciliation
St. Mark 1:15; 2:1-12
St. Luke 7:48; 15:18
St. John 20:19; 22-23
Anointing of the Sick
St. Luke 6:19
St. Mark 1:41; 3:10; 6:56
St. Matthew 10:8; 25:36
Suggest for further reading
Pope John Paul II, I will Give you Shepherds, “Pastores Dabo Vobis”, 1992