One weekend at the softball fields, while his sister played in an all-day tournament, my young son spent the day with other children in a sandbox. Before the last game he became aware of the grimy status of his outward appearance with the dirt of the day smudged across his face and hands. His little voice still rings out in my memory, “Mama, I dirty! Make me clean.” So I took him into the bathroom and, working with soap and water, gave him a good scrubbing with paper towels until we revealed a shiny clean face and hands.
Some years later, when it was time for my son to learn about the Sacrament of Reconciliation, I reminded him of this experience. In Confession, we go before the Lord with the dirt of our days clinging to our soul and we ask Him, “Lord make me clean.” We repent of our sinful ways, ask for forgiveness and healing, and promise to do better tomorrow. Jesus answers us the way He responds to the man with leprosy, “I do will it. Be made clean.”
When was the last time you sought Jesus in the sacrament of Reconciliation? Is it time to return? It doesn’t matter how much time has passed or what you’ve done in your life since the last time you went to Reconciliation. He waits patiently for us to notice our dirty hands and face, the smudged sin on our soul. He is there for us to seek him out, to humbly bow and ask for His forgiveness.
Come and ask Him, Lord if you wish, you can make me clean. There is nothing that we cannot ask Him for when we have true repentance. Come before Jesus. Approach Him with a contrite and humble heart and he will make you clean.
Jesus, as I consider all the sores and stains of my sin, I truly repent and seek your forgiveness. If you wish, you can make me clean.
Un fin de semana en los campos de sóftbol, mientras su hermana jugaba en un torneo que duraba todo el día, mi hijo pequeño pasó el día con otros niños en un arenero. Antes del último partido, se dio cuenta de lo sucio que estaba su aspecto exterior, con la suciedad del día manchada en la cara y las manos. Su vocecita aún resuena en mi memoria: “¡Mami, ‘toy sucio! Límpiame”. Así que lo llevé al baño y, con agua y jabón, lo froté bien con papel toalla hasta que vimos su cara y sus manos limpias y relucientes.
Años después, cuando llegó el momento de que mi hijo aprendiera sobre el Sacramento de la Reconciliación, le recordé esta experiencia. En la Confesión, nos presentamos ante el Señor con la suciedad de nuestros días pegada al alma y le pedimos: “Señor, hazme limpio”. Nos arrepentimos de nuestros pecados, pedimos perdón y sanación, y prometemos mejorar mañana. Jesús nos responde como le respondió al leproso: “Quiero. Queda limpio”.
¿Cuándo fue la última vez que buscaste a Jesús en el sacramento de la Reconciliación? ¿Es hora de volver? No importa cuánto tiempo haya pasado ni qué hayas hecho en tu vida desde la última vez que fuiste a la Reconciliación. Él espera pacientemente a que nos demos cuenta de nuestras manos y rostro sucios, de la mancha de pecado en nuestra alma. Él está ahí para que lo busquemos, para que nos inclinemos humildemente y le pidamos perdón.
Ven y pídele: “Señor, si quieres, puedes curarme”. No hay nada que no podamos pedirle cuando estamos verdaderamente arrepentidos. Ven ante Jesús. Acércate con un corazón contrito y humilde, y te limpiará.
Jesús, al considerar todas las llagas y manchas de mi pecado, me arrepiento de verdad y busco tu perdón. Si quieres, puedes limpiarme.
Shelly Henley Kelly is a wife, mother of three, and native Texan who writes and records a podcast with her sister on Of Sound Mind and Spirit and is a regular contributor to Catholic Mom. When not writing or recording, Shelly can be found volunteering as a Youth Ministry Catechist, keeping the scorebook at her son’s baseball games, diving deep into historical research, or hiding with a good book in between games.
Feature Image Credit: Submitted by Author
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