Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Friday of the 26th week in ordinary time, October 3, 2025
The title for our meditation today is: Confession of Sins. In today's Gospel, Jesus cries out in a stern tone: "Woe to you, O Chorazim! Woe unto thee, O Bethsaida!" (Luke 10:13). This appeal was born out of His disappointment as well as anger against the cities that had witnessed miracles, but does not repent.
Jesus' anger was not without reason, but as a form of love that rebuked harshly, so that people would realize that sin brings woe and destruction. This is the basis for us to open our hearts, admit our mistakes, and humbly seek God's mercy.
In the Old Testament, we see how the nation of Israel was led by prophets and priests to notice their errors. The prophet Nathan rebuked King David when he sinned, and David humbly confessed: "I have sinned against the Lord" (2Sam 12:13). In today's first reading, the prophet Baruch sincerely acknowledged all the mistakes of God's people who were fundamentally disobedient to God. This is an example of how true confession requires the courage to be honest with yourself and before God. There is no path to repentance without the humility to admit that we have strayed from God's path. Disobedience to God surely leads people to misery.
A true confession was not just a ritual or formality. It must come from a sincere heart, accompanied by deep regret and a genuine intention to change. We may be able to deceive others with words, but we cannot deceive the God who sees our hearts. So whenever we come to the Sacrament of repentance, the most important attitude is not how beautifully our words of repentance are, but how sincere our desire to leave sins behind and return to God's love.
Jesus never rejects a person who comes with a broken and crushed heart because of sin. Rather, he embraces and heals those who honestly acknowledge it. However, He does not hesitate to condemn the pride of a heart that refuses to repent too. This means that salvation and forgiveness are available, but only for those who are willing to open up themselves. This realization leads us not only to make a routine confession, but also a door to life renewal.
Let's imagine a child who broke his mother's beloved vase. The child might deny it, blame others, or pretend not to know. However, as long as the child does not have the gut to admit his mistakes, his heart would continue to be overwhelmed with fear and guilt. Once he honestly confessed to his mother, even when he might receive a reprimand, the child actually gained peace because his mother forgave with love. Such is the confession of sin in faith: it opens the way for us to experience true peace because we are restored by the Father's love.
Let us pray. In the name of the Father ... O good Lord, do not remember our sins, but give attention to the faith of Your beloved people, and our lives will be more pleasing to You. Hail Mary, full of grace... In the name of the Father ...
