The penitential practices aim at “dispelling all evil, washing guilt away, restoring lost innocence, bringing mourners joy, casting out hatred, bringing us peace and humbling our earthly pride” (Paschal Praeconuium). The very first words of Jesus are, ‘Repent and believe in the Gospel’. The two verbs ‘repent’ and ‘believe’ characterizes the essence of conversion. Repentance stands in the middle and makes two different journeys. The first journey is the backward movement of looking back at our sinfulness and the compassionate forgiveness of the Father. I have repented from these things that made a slave out of me. The second journey is the forward movement of looking forward at believing in the gospel. When Jesus said, ‘Repent and believe in the gospel’, he did not mean the NT, rather believe in the total message of conversion and salvation. It means the radical following of Jesus. The first act of Jesus after this message was to call first disciples together. Fulton Sheen used to make fun of nuns: “Hearing nuns’ confession is like being stoned to death with popcorn. Many Christians still think Sunday as a sponge to wipe out their sins. Sacrament of reconciliation often thought of as a freebee; buy one get one free. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is not an additional prayer or a form of popular piety like the way of the cross or a rosary: it is a Sacrament instituted by Christ to impart grace to the soul.
There are three levels of understanding reconciliation: Alteration, conversion and transformation. By Alteration we mean the relatively limited form of change that develops from one’s personal behavior. This includes a temporary apologies or word level sorrys and thought patters. Sorry I scolded you, made fun of you, were made at you etc. Even though these limited forms of change carry the materials of true feelings of compassion, they don’t necessarily form a person in holiness. It could be thought of as the first or early stage of conversion.
Conversion is a radical change in which past affiliations is rejected for some new commitment and identity. We should be doubly careful here that conversion is only the second stage. The prodigal son came to his senses and returned. Zacchaeus invited Jesus and repented and the woman caught in adultery was given forgiveness. Conversion of the heart is indeed a human commitment based on human promises which are often weak and vulnerable. It needs the constant guidance by the Holy Spirit and constant renewal from our part.
Third level is the transformation which is also a radical change, but “one in which an altered perception reinterprets both past and present” (Beverly Roberts Gaventa). Transformation compulsively moves us towards holiness in the way we live out the spirit of forgiveness. The prodigal son was reinstated as the son. Zacchaeus went ahead and shared and the sinful woman became a radical follower of Jesus.
The Church needs conversions and transformations for its survival and mission. All those who are called to be leaders in any form need to kneel in spirit to raise the shattered hopes, wavering faith and fickle love of simple people. We are all leaders and sharers of the priesthood of Christ, thus our hopes are realized and faith strengthened and love deepened by this sacrament. Go then to experience Christ’s forgiveness for he says, “Return to me with your whole heart.” (Joel 2:12)
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