Shalom to you! How are you today? I hope that you are well. As we're nearing the end of another Lenten journey I think that it would be worth our time to briefly consider an important theme of this liturgical season: Reconciliation. It's a concept that can be generally understood as the healing of a relationship that was wounded, broken, or damaged.
Over the course of the last five weeks we have read numerous passages of Sacred Scripture that speak about reconciliation with one another and with God as well. As Catholic Christians we are blessed to have the Sacrament of Reconciliation as the ordinary way to receive forgiveness for our sins and to restore our relationship with the Lord. This enables us to access sanctifying grace or the grace that makes us holy as God is holy.
Within the celebration of the Mass there are two Eucharistic Prayers that are dedicated to the goal of complete reconciliation with all peoples and with God as well. Within the rubrics of the Roman Missal, the book containing the prayers used in the Catholic Mass, we read the following about these important supplications:
“The Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation may be used in Masses in which the mystery of reconciliation is conveyed to the faithful in a special way, as, for example, in the Masses for Promoting Harmony, For Reconciliation, For the Preservation of Peace and Justice, In Time of War or Civil Disturbance, For the Forgiveness of Sins, For Charity, of the Mystery of the Holy Cross, of the Most Holy Eucharist, of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, as well as in Masses during Lent.
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Though it does not appear until the end of the list it is nonetheless significant that these Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation can fittingly be utilized “in Masses during Lent.” It is a liturgical season that has a particular emphasis on having a healthy relationship with God by turning away from sin and being faithful to the Gospel. You might have noticed that throughout the Season of Lent I have made it a point to pray the Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation whenever prudent and possible. Now you have a fuller understanding as to why I have done so.
Having said that I hope that you have a great finish to this Lenten journey. May the reconciling Grace that Jesus won for us through his suffering, death, and resurrection help us to convey the “message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19) through our joyful words and faith-filled lives.
