Homily for October 12, 2025

We talk a lot about forgiveness b/c Jesus talks a lot about forgiveness. We call upon Christ’s mercy every time we celebrate Mass—we admit before God and to each other that we have sinned, then we say, Kyrie, Eleison; Lord, have mercy.   We apologize and then we ask for mercy — isn’t it enough to apologize?   When a child hits another/steals a toy/or says a bad word – mom/dad say: ‘Go apologize… and return the toy/do something nice for her/offer a word of blessing, instead.’

Forgiveness is necessary, but it does not erase the past—it deals with the future.   I remember being in 3^rd grade, I think,   when our teacher gave each of us a sheet of paper, then she asked us to crumble it into a ball.    Once we did that, she said: ‘Now I want you to make it flat again.’   We all uncrumpled it, and she pointed out how it wasn’t perfectly flat in the same way it used to be.   Some of the smarties in the class said, ‘I can iron out the creases and bring it back tomorrow.’   ‘Even if you do that,’ she said, ‘it won’t be exactly in the same way it used to be.’

On that day, we learned that forgiveness is only one step,    but we must move forward toward healing.   When a surgeon is going to perform an appendectomy,   the surgeon doesn’t have a time machine to go back to when the appendix didn’t use to hurt—that’s not even the point!   He/she deals with the future from the present,   not only grieving the past.   I think of the Resurrection of Christ—He rose from the dead: Yes,   but the marks of the nails & the lance remained in His glorified Body.   Forgiveness and healing are not about tracing our steps back to the way things used to be — it’s about moving from where we are right now, knowing I can’t change the past, to what lies ahead.

Forgiveness. Healing. Reconciliation.   These 10 lepers cry out to Jesus from a distance—they’re forbidden to get near other people— they cry out for Christ’s mercy: Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!   Kyrie, Eleison.    They didn’t have to go into detail—everybody knew they wanted healing from leprosy, and God knows even more of what they need than they do themselves!   A simple request, Kyrie, Eleison.   It’s not just: “I am sorry for my sins, Lord.”   It’s also, “Jesus, have pity on me; heal me of everything that hurts and of everything I am not even aware is causing me harm.”   Christe, Eleison.   |   “Lord, help me forgive myself,” Kyrie, Eleison.

Forgiveness is given, but healing is not yet completed.   Jesus says to the 10: Go show yourselves to the priests – their penance, you might say.   In the Law, they understood this meant: ‘Go to the priest so he can declare you clean again, and you can re-integrate into society.’  That’s the penance Jesus assigned to them,   but notice how it’s not a condition to forgiveness.   Ten were cleansed, were they not?   Where are the other nine?   You see here: God shows mercy to all who call to Him with a sincere heart,    but not all are attuned to seeing it.

When I am in the Confessional and I say, “For you penance…”   Sometimes, I will hear a gentle *gasp*.   The penance is not a punishment for what you have done—those punishments come on their own: they’re called consequences here and now!   The Lord is interested in giving us another chance/giving us the opportunity to be forgiven, healed, and reconciled to the Father and the Church.   Penance helps us be healed from the harm we have caused to ourselves by our own mistakes (or from the mistakes of others).   Sometimes I do give Hail Mary’s b/c I think you need our Virgin Mother’s prayers,   but I especially try to give prayers or acts of charity that will help you move away from those sinful habits.

Everybody leaves the Confessional disposed to complete their penance, like the ten who clamored for Christ’s mercy. And the ten are cleansed from their leprosy/from their sins.   So, as they all are healed,   but only the Samaritan is saved.   Why?   Well, we don’t really know what the 9 did after the priest declared them clean again,   but we know that one of them returned to give thanks to God.   One of them wanted more than to be healed from their illness—he wanted a friendship with God; he wanted salvation.

The Samaritan called out for God’s mercy, Kyrie, Eleison, with a heart fully intent in completing his penance,   he also turned to God and gave thanks.   But, this is much more than: ‘Do you forgive me?’ ‘Yes’ ‘Thank you.’   Those who leave the Confessional could walk out of the church and never come back until they commit a sin and feel really bad in 3 years!   But, it’s such a great joy and privilege (for me, as a priest) when I hear someone’s confession   and then I give them the Eucharist 30 min. later!   They have returned to the Thanksgiving of Christ/to the Eucharist/to the source of life! They have gone from: sorrow for sin, clamoring for God’s mercy,   to healing, and (finally) to reconciliation with God in the Eucharist.

We can’t ever fully uncrumple a sheet of paper,   but the point is to heal from where we are.    Kyrie, Eleison is what we ask of God, for a healing of mind, soul, and body.   Our penances/devotions/penitential practices   they all guide us along the way of virtue,   to heal from the effects that sin has left in our personhood   and to help us avoid that sin in the future.   But the ultimate goal is union with God/being reconciled with Him, who is eternally faithful to us.

This saying is trustworthy:   If we have died with him we shall also live with him;    if we persevere we shall also reign with him.   But if we deny him he will deny us.   If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.