Did you happen to notice the similarities in today’s readings for Mass? The old testament reading told the story of how Joseph was thrown into a well and sold into slavery by his brothers, because they were jealous of him. Then, today’s gospel is a story that Jesus told about a vineyard owner that leased his vineyard to tenants, that killed everyone he sent to them, including his own son, out of jealousy.
The first reading for Mass today reveals that the motivation of Joseph’s brothers is jealousy. Then the parable Jesus told in today’s gospel reveals the tennants’ motive as jealousy as well. The first reading also tells how Joseph’s brothers conspired to commit murder, and then the gospel reading tells the story about the tenants who did commit murder.
These readings are very relevant to our Lenten journey, because they both show how small sins can take over our lives and grow out of control into mortal sins. The impulses of jealousy, greed or anger that many of us experience at some point in our lives needs to be conquered while they are still small. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That is why it is good to confess our venial sins in confession during Lent, because it helps us become more aware of our sinful inclinations. Left unrestrained these impulses can spiral out of control into a serious, life altering mortal sin.
We began a new RCIA group in the prison where I serve as a volunteer, this week. It is to help prepare candidates to receive the sacraments for the first time when our archbishop visits us in September. We began by discussing our beliefs in God, when one of the inmates spoke up. He said he accidentally wound up in our group and wasn’t sure he signed up for the right class, but since he was there he decided to listen and maybe participate in some of the discussions.
This inmate later told us that he was having unrelenting nightmares about his crime, which was murder. He couldn’t sleep at night. His conscience was rightfully bothering him, and nothing he did seemed to help. Until he entered prison he never even thought about God. Out of desperation, he began reading the bible, trying to cope with his guilt. He didn’t even know where to start.
Since this man wasn’t a Catholic, I couldn’t suggest that he see the priest for confession. So, I gave him a prayer book and talked to him about how Jesus Christ died for the forgiveness of our sins, and encouraged him to keep coming to our classes. I also advised him to pray to Jesus when he couldn’t sleep, asking for his forgiveness, and try to get to know him better through prayer and the scriptures.
Listening to this inmate, I came to realize that all of us would be stuck in the misery of our own sins too, if it wasn’t for Christ’s forgiveness. We would be miserable for the rest of our lives, and there would be no healing available to mend our hearts either, without the sacrament of confession.
Although it’s not mentioned in today’s scriptures, Jesus Christ forgave the men who crucified him. Joseph also forgave his brothers who tried to kill him and sold him into slavery. Neither group deserved to be forgiven for what they did. Forgiveness was the result of a pure act of grace.
What do you think?
Do you think that there are some sins that are unforgivable?
Is there something that another person did to you that hurts so much that you just can’t seem to forgive that person?
Or, is there something that you did in the past that hurts so much, that you still can’t forgive yourself?
We are fortunate to have the sacrament of confession as a healing balm for our souls, a place to physically bring our brokenness to Jesus Christ, who alone has the power to heal us. Tomorrow is Saturday morning and most Catholic churches offer the sacrament of confession. Perhaps this is a good time to gather our thoughts and reflect on our past. Then bring our sins, both venial and mortal, to the priest. Bring them to Jesus. Lay them at his feet and ask for forgiveness – and his mercy. We don’t deserve it and we can’t make it right again, by ourselves. It is only because of the love that Jesus Christ has for us, and through the grace of confession, that we can find forgiveness and peace for our souls.
