God the Father of Mercy
Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 18: 15-20 - Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“…whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
The Church has always understood these words about “binding” and “loosing” as pertaining to the forgiveness of sins. First, Jesus uses these words when establishing the Church on Peter (Matthew 16:19). Then, He uses them again here amidst a conversation about sin and forgiveness. Finally, He will use similar words after His Resurrection when He breathes on the apostles and says to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any they are retained” (John 20:22-23).
Many people, perhaps including us, have questions about Confession. It is important that we see Jesus establishing the Sacrament here in the Gospels. It is important that we see that it is God who forgives our sins through a priest. It is important that we see Jesus repeating this teaching again and again. It is important to understand that God doesn’t need a priest to forgive our sins, but God chooses to use priests to forgive our sins. Perhaps listening to the words of “Absolution” during Confession will help us to see God’s role in the Sacrament of Confession. Listen to them now: “God the Father of mercies, through the Death and Resurrection of His Son, has reconciled the world to Himself, and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins. Through the ministry of the Church may God grant you pardon and peace. And I absolve you of your sins in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” Let’s go to Confession soon and hear these words from the priest himself.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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