Reparation

Now I rejoice in my suffering for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the Church…

St. Thomas Aquinas says that in order for the merits of the Passion of Christ to be applied to us, we need to bear the trials that God sends us, so we can become like Christ. The CCC teaches that every offense we make entails a duty of reparation, even if the sin has been forgiven. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in the past and need to restore the balance disturbed by these mistakes.

It first starts with a conversion of heart. If I am not truly sorry for my sins, then what is stopping me from doing it again? Very often I can be tied down by habitual sin (known as vices). However, once my heart truly repents and humbly admits the mistake made, avoids it with a sincere heart and conviction, only then is my search for forgiveness authentic.

Seeking forgiveness comes naturally after a conversion of heart. I ask forgiveness from the Lord and the people I have offended. And because of my conversion of heart, my sorrow is genuine.

Through God’s mercy, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, I am forgiven. God’s love is limitless and faithful. When a person I have offended can forgive me the way God forgives me, no matter the magnitude of hurt done, I feel very unworthy but blessed to know that I am forgiven. In fact, this forgiveness propels me, in my already converted heart, to avoid that sin.

However, it doesn’t end there. The imbalance that was created due to my mistakes needs to be restored. And this is where patience, humility and agape love need to be at the forefront. These outward and concrete signs of God’s love need to be present in every interaction with the people I have offended. It is through a consistent out pour of God’s love that His Holy Spirit can heal the brokenness caused by my mistakes. It may take days, weeks, months, or years to make reparations for what I have done, but because of my conversion of heart, I am willing to do whatever it takes.

When I apply these principles in my life, I can begin to see a glimpse of how God feels when we offend Him. I can only imagine how many nails I have hammered to His hands and feet. Every time we hurt our brothers and sisters, we offend God as well. We often think that our reparation for sins only comes in purgatory or through an Act of Penance but I believe that there is no time like the present to make conscious acts to rebuild what was broken and to restore the wounds.

Thank God for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Praise God for His forgiveness, love and fountain of grace. It is through His example that I can forgive and persevere in making reparations for my sins. A true sign of heartfelt and earnest sorrow is an unwavering conviction of making what was wrong right.