John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
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We hear this verse in today’s Gospel reading. John the Baptist calls the crowds to repentance and reconciliation. And he calls us.
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A few weeks ago, I reached out to my priest for an “emergency” Confession. My head and heart were heavy, as I struggled and stumbled with a specific sin. I felt embarrassed for how I had fallen short, & I wanted to run away and hide in isolation. “God, I’ll never measure up.” “God, I’m nothing but a damaged good.” “God, I’m too broken.” I recognized that this shame was a trap to rob me of peace and hope. I took deep breaths to relax & soothe my racing mind and body. As I slowly inhaled and exhaled, Jesus repeated the words of his cousin, “Behold, I am the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” There was no reason to escape. When we fall short, He is ready to catch us in His open arms.
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And while we must work on being self-aware and accountable for how we fall short with God & with others, we must also have courage. Jesus invites each of us to come as we are — whoever we are and wherever we are. Whether we are in the peaks or the pits, we are intimately known by God. And we are both fiercely and tenderly loved by Him. We all have our fears, doubts, insecurities, and wounds. We are not loved in spite of them. We are loved to the point of dying on the cross because of them. Our Lord is more aware of our sins than we are, and yet He is stirred with mercy, gentleness, and compassion for us.
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After Confession, I prayed and reflected on the Sacrament & the fullness of its beauty. I was reminded that Jesus enters into our messiness and all of life’s messiness.
By our nature, we are going to get messy. But when we turn to God and ask for his forgiveness, we invite him to shine his grace and glory most powerfully through us! Our messiness and all of life’s messiness are paths to holiness & virtue. We may stumble and struggle on our way to heaven, but we are each just one confession away from Sainthood. Saints are made in the confessional.
Reflection by Jess Meeth
