Reflection
Feast of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, priest
Have you ever offended someone and asked for forgiveness and then you wondered whether you were really forgiven? In today’s first reading, near the end of the book of Micah, Micah is praying to the Lord for forgiveness and to be more active as the Shepherd of Israel. In Micah’s time, the Israelites found themselves isolated and surrounded by enemies. Micah is praying for a second miraculous exodus where Israel will no longer be under domination. The final three verses of Micah form a hymn of praise for God’s forgiveness (Micah 7:17–20). (Rich Freeeman, DMin “Micah’s Final Prayer to the Lord” Chosen People Ministries, June 2024 Newsletter)
“And (God) will again have compassion on us, treading under foot our guilt? YOU will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; YOU will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham…”
-Micah 7:19
In some Jewish traditions, these verses are read during the Rosh Hashanah Service.
In a ceremony called Tashlikh, they throw pieces of bread into a body of water, symbolizing casting away their sins and the bread drifting away and eventually disappearing. (Ibid.)
In our Catholic tradition, we celebrate the sacrament or reconciliation (some refer to it as the sacrament of penance or confession). In this sacrament, we confess our sins to the priest, and the priest prays aloud the following:
“God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his son has reconciled the world to himself and poured out the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the church may God grant you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, (+) and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
(Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments)
Lord, thank you for assuring me that I am forgiven.
