VATICAN - Prayers for Lent - The Act of Contrition (9)

Vatican City (Fides Service) - 'I resolve with the help of God’s grace never to sin again.' Saint Paul speaks of this inner struggle which we often lose: « In my inmost self I dearly love God's law, but I see that acting on my body there is a different law which battles against the law in my mind …» (Romans 7, 22-23); he senses two laws one is the law of sin (cf Romans7, 22-23). He exclaims: « What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body doomed to death?» (Romans 7, 24).
We face this same struggle. Jesus warns us: «…unless you convert, you will perish in the same way » (Luke 13, 3); «Watch and pray so as not to fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is week » (Matthew 26, 41). He warned Saint Peter, but Peter denied Jesus three times… (cf Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, John 13).
Christ promises: «he who remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing » (Jn 15, 5b). And Saint Paul conscious of his weakness says: «I can do everything in the One who gives me strength » (Philippians 4, 13).
If we struggle alone we struggle in vain. Our enemy the Devil «sicut leo rugiens circuit quaerens quem devoret; cui resistite fortes in fide»: rages around like a lion looking for someone to devour. Resist, firm in the faith (Ist Letter of Peter 5, 8b). Saint Peter experienced this but he also experienced the forgiveness of Jesus who compensated for the triple denial with an opportunity to make a triple profession of love.
« 1When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?' He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my lambs.' 16A second time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He replied, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Look after my sheep.' Then he said to him a third time, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt that he asked him a third time, 'Do you love me?' and said, 'Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep. » (Jn 21, 15-17).
We are Prodigal sons and daughters, sinful men and women, we are the paralytic, we are Saint Paul, Saint Peter, we are sinners … the Father forgave them, the Son of God forgave them will they not forgive us too?
Perhaps God may tire of forgiving? Does a doctor ever tire of prescribing insulin for a person with diabetes? Or does a diabetic ever tire of taking the daily dose of insulin? Of course not! He would die, lose his mortal life …
The measure of God’s infinite forgiveness we learn from the Lord Jesus when Peter asks how often he should forgive: «Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he sins against me? As many as seven times?». And Jesus replies: «Not seven times, but seventy times seven» (Mathew 18, 21b-22). In other words always.
How and where is God always ready to forgive us? In the Sacrament of Confession, also called Sacrament of Reconciliation, through the ministry entrusted to the disciples on the evening of the Resurrection (cf Jn 20, 23). (to be continued) (J.M.) (Agenzia Fides 27/3/2007, righe 35, parole 516)