It’s not about sin

“The prodigal son gospel reading is the perfect ‘laetare‘ for the fourth Sunday in Lent…laetare means joyous…we are happy because we’re now halfway through Lent,” the new Pastor, Fr. Jose Alberto Vasquez at St. Patrick’s Church in Arroyo Grande, California, claimed.

Then he exclaimed that reconciliation is not about sin but forgiveness. Several times, he made that statement that sounded more like a declaration. I am still thinking about his words uttered last night during the Vigil Mass. Particularly that statement about sin.

I should know this. I should know that I go to confession for forgiveness…of course, why else do we go?

And yet, the sequence of the words in Fr. Jose’s homily feel new.

Because we focus on our failures, imperfections,

the depressingly persistent disappointments of ourselves. His entire homily was about reconciliation-confession. How to prepare, what to say, what to expect and how to feel once we leave the confessional. In my almost twenty years in this faith, I have never heard a priest discuss this subject, never mind offer a five-step template for it. But this man did, using himself and the Prodigal Son as  models.

For many of us, the anticipation, worry and anxiety about going to confession consume far more time and energy than does the actual act itself. And for good reason, stated Fr. Beto. One of the priests in the seminary where he studied did what no priest should ever do. When the young seminarian began to list his sins, rather than merely listening, the confessor asked for explanations.

“How could you do that?”

“How many times did you think that?”

“Why did you do that?”

The result for the young priest was a vow: “I will never ask questions, make judgments, ask questions…I will do what I have been ordained to do, provide absolution…no more and no less.” His “5 steps to confession” are those of the Prodigal Son.

• The fact of our sinful nature is not in dispute: state the wrong, simply and clearly.”I have sinned against God and you, I no longer deserve to be called your son.”
• Prepare by deciding the answers to these questions. “What do I want to say?” “What are the things I need to say?” “The things that are disturbing my peace?”
• Feel sorrow.
• Be willing to do penance. “I no longer deserve to be your son.”
• Resolve never to commit the sin again.

Most of all, consider the response of the betrayed father. “Kill the fatted calf!! My son who was dead now lives.!”

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’^bBut the father said to his servants,‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

We need this Gospel passage.

Almost ten years have passed since I wrote about Father Beto’s homily but his remarks are apt for this Laetare Sunday in 2025.

Why?

Many reasons, but primarily two. Countless others share a similar story about unfair, even cruel, treatment by a priest. Most likely, other seminarians did. And made different choices from Father Beto’s. Perhaps became angry, resentful, left the seminary, and/or Catholicism. However, he chose to use his humiliation uniquely.

No matter how many times I read and ponder this Gospel passage, its message never fails to penetrate my heart and mind. This is true because I keep thinking I can finally reach a place where I can get above it all: the sins that occur so consistently in my thoughts and actions. With sufficient penances, I can get clean. But my efforts are so inadequate as to be comical, if salvation could be considered amusing, that is.

Depending on the moment, day or week, I’m one or the other–the older or the younger son, so this parable brings me to tears just like it does Father Mike Schmitz:

So, just when it reaches the point where our self-disgust rears up to overpower, this Gospel passage appears. And the liturgical colors become festive if only for this one Sunday.

Pope Francis declares that during the sacrament of confession, “The Lord removes the ashes from the ember of the soul, cleanses those inner stains that prevent us from trusting in God, from embracing our brothers, from loving ourselves. He forgives everything.” Once cleansed, we can hear the saints impart their secrets to us.

A saint is not, as some may believe, a perfect person. Rather, a saint is a sinner who has stopped trying to heal himself, and who has stopped expecting other people or life to heal him. Instead, a saint is someone who each day repents and turns himself over completely to God, regardless of what yesterday was like and what tomorrow will be. So many people wonder what the key to happiness in life is. Some believe that it is wealth, health, success, etc. The saints teach us, primarily by their life and witness, that the key to happiness is repentance…

Repentance: Embracing Jesus