True Contrition and the Prodigal Son
March 2nd Readings Reflection: Saturday of the Second Week of Lent
Today’s Gospel recounts the well-known Parable of the Prodigal Son. In the parable, the younger son tried to make his own way in the world without his father’s guidance. The suffering that he experienced as a result of his waywardness brought him to a realization of his sinfulness. This realization prompted him to repent: “I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.’” In return for his son’s repentance, the father greets him with open arms, forgiving everything that he has done.
Like the father in today’s parable, God extends His mercy freely in the Sacrament of Penance to those who possess true contrition and a firm purpose of amendment. True contrition refers to a sorrow for our sins that comes from our heart; we do not merely say that we are sorry but truly feel sorrow or remorse in our hearts for what we have done. Furthermore, this sorrow must spring from some supernatural reason rather than a natural reason; that is, it must be a reason pertaining to God rather than some physical suffering from our sins.
Temporal or earthly punishment can be the starting point from which we develop a supernatural sorrow for our sins, but natural reasons can never be the only motives for our contrition. We must possess supernatural contrition for all of our mortal sins, because if we are only sorry for some of them, our sorrow is not genuine. Just as the Prodigal Son did not omit any sins when he repented, so too we should be sorry for all of the sins that we have committed.
All of this may seem daunting for a person preparing to receive the Sacrament of Penance. The stipulations for contrition and the requirement to have a firm resolution to sin no more may seem legalistic and unnecessary. However, contrition and a purpose of amendment are rooted in Scripture, as can be seen in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The son recognized his sins, was sorry for them, humbly confessed his sins to his father, and resolved to change his ways. In return, his father welcomed him home with open arms.
This is exactly what happens when we sincerely receive the Sacrament of Penance. We, like the Prodigal Son, resolve to return to our Heavenly Father and beg His mercy and forgiveness for the many times that we have sinned against Him. When we confess our sins with true contrition and a sincere purpose of amendment, God mercifully imparts His forgiveness, washing our souls clean in His Blood, which He poured forth for us on the Cross.
“If we confess our sins, [H]e is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity” (1 Jn 1:9 DRB).
We run the risk of abusing the sacrament of reconciliation, by using it to feel good about ourselves and then we just keep sinning. We have to take it seriously, by expressing sincere sorrow and a purpose of amendment.