Sermon - December 7

Sunday, December 7, 2025 Lesson from Father Mirko.

HOMILY ON THE HOLY SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE

Our Lord Jesus Christ, when He stood before His disciples after the Resurrection, spoke those saving words: "Receive the Holy Spirit; if you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." With these words He established the Holy Sacrament of Confession, giving the Church the authority and grace to return a person into the embrace of God, to grant him purification, healing and renewal of the soul.Confession is not a formality, not an administrative conversation, not a mere listing of sins. Confession is a living encounter between a person and God. It is the moment when the soul removes the burden it has carried for years; when one bravely looks into one's inner self and without fear or shame, opens the heart before the Heavenly Father. The priest is only a witness, an assistant to the Physician; repentance takes place between the person and God. The essence of confession is sincere repentance -- to change one's mind, way of life, habits and thoughts. Repentance is not only sorrow for a wrong deed; it is the decision to turn toward God, to straighten our paths, to return to the house of our Father like the prodigal son. God does not ask of us perfection but a sincere desire to return to Him. He never rejects a contrite heart; He always opens the door to the one who knocks. How many times do we feel within ourselves restlessness, heaviness and bitterness, realizing that sin separates us from the peace of God. Confession is a spiritual bath, a spiritual hospital. Just as the body cannot be healthy without being washed, so the soul cannot truly live without being cleansed through repentance. And the grace received in this holy sacrament strengthens a person and gives him new power to walk the path of virtue. It is important, brothers and sisters, that before confession we do not seek excuses, do not blame others and do not hide our wounds. God knows everything; confession is not for Him to learn what we have done, but for us to acknowledge the truth and begin to heal it. Sincerity heals and confession liberates.Finally, confession is not a moment of shame but a moment of joy. Heaven rejoices over every repentant sinner. Just as a father embraces his lost child, so God embraces the one who returns to Him with tears of repentance.Therefore, let us approach confession humbly, yet with hope -- with sorrow for our sins, yet with joy that God receives us and gives us a new beginning.May the Lord grant that we always receive the holy sacrament of repentance with seriousness, sincerity and the desire for our hearts to be transformed. And may we, cleansed and strengthened, continue our life in the light of Christ, walking the path of salvation. Amen