Father Mark Mary (2:58)

And.

Franciscan Friar (2:59)

The focus is on his mercy. I have been forgiven. I believe in the forgiveness of sins. And I believe in it so deeply. I experience it so deeply, I can't help but smile. I can't help but be joyful. Absolutely. There's other works appropriate to our faith and the forgiveness of sins, but this is the one I want to focus on today. And to help paint another picture, let's take a look at the parable of the prodigal son. So this is Luke, chapter 15, right? And so, you know, we all know the youngest son, he asked for his inheritance, he goes and squanders it and loose living and. And he's reminded, like, I have a father. I have a father back home. And so he's going to go to his father, I'm going to go back to him. I'm going to say, I no longer be, you know, deserve to be called your son and I'll be your servant. And the father sees him at a distance and is moved and runs and embraces him, kisses him and has the fatty cast slaughtered. And then it says, and they begin to make merry. And I kind of have this image of pretend like there's the prodigal son and he's on his journey back to his father. And I'm thinking of like, sort of like a picture maybe you've seen of like a 16th century Franciscan monk who's like got the old burlap sack and he's going through town maybe begging bread. It's just like this big bag that he's. He's got two hands on it just kind of over his shoulder, next to his ear, and it's this big heavy bag and he's bent over. And I kind of have the image of the prodigal son being like that. And in the bag are all of his sins. And so he's coming back to the Father. And when the father comes and embraces him. And what does the father do?

Father Mark Mary (4:33)

He just.

Franciscan Friar (4:34)

He takes it. He takes all of the weight, he destroys all of the stones, he forgives all the sin. All of the debt is forgiven. You don't have to carry it anymore.

Father Mark Mary (4:43)

It's gone.

Franciscan Friar (4:45)

So imagine like the son believing in forgiveness of sins enough. Believing his father's mercy enough. Like, he comes to the party and he's there and he's in it and they're singing and dancing all around. But now imagine I could. I just. I see like the son still bent over and still with both of his hands together, kind of over his shoulders, carrying this imaginary weight. Like he's just become so accustomed to it and he still sort of feels it in his interior heart. So he's just going around this party in his honor, celib that the son who is dead is alive. Like just bent over and like he's not. He's not joyful, he's not taking it in. His hands are both carrying this empty weight that's gone, but he's still acting like he's carrying it. And the Father coming to him, right? And gently lifting his eyes, taking both.

Father Mark Mary (5:33)

His hands, saying, like son, the burden is gone. The burden is gone. It is forgiven. Let it go.

Franciscan Friar (5:45)

And the son can do this, right? The son can do this. And you and I can do this because it's forgiven. The Father took care of it.

Father Mark Mary (5:52)

It's gone.

Franciscan Friar (5:54)

I believe in the forgiveness of sins. And part of the work is letting go of the burden. And my brothers and sisters, I think so many of us, the sins are.

Father Mark Mary (6:02)

Forgiven, but we remember them.

Franciscan Friar (6:04)

We're still bent over, beat up, eyes.

Father Mark Mary (6:07)

To the ground, no smile, uncomfortable.

Franciscan Friar (6:11)

Our hands not free for rejoicing because.

Father Mark Mary (6:14)

They'Re carrying this fake burden. Let's let the Father come to us again. Say, hey, the sins are gone, you are forgiven. Stand upright, my son. Stand tall, my daughter. Smile, Rejoice, be joyful, be free. Eat, drink and be merry. And celebrate with me that we are back together. As we pray, let us just be honest with ourselves.

Franciscan Friar (6:55)

Firstly, do we have unrepentant sins?

Father Mark Mary (6:57)

Do we have unconfessed sins?

Franciscan Friar (7:00)

If we believe in the forgiveness of sins, like, let's take this to the sacrament.

Father Mark Mary (7:03)

Let's take it and give it to Jesus.

Franciscan Friar (7:06)

If we have confessed sins.

Father Mark Mary (7:10)

Let'S let them go. Let it go. It's gone, it's forgiven.

Franciscan Friar (7:14)

The burden you're carrying, it is not real.

Father Mark Mary (7:21)

Father, come to us. Lift our eyes to yours. Lift our heads. Free our hands from the fake burden, the fake weight. Teach us to rejoice. Teach us to do the work of smiling as we celebrate and live in and swim in the waters of your mercy. Let us pray in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Franciscan Friar (8:08)

And lead us not into temptation, but.

Father Mark Mary (8:10)

Deliver us from evil. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with the. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Glory be to the Father and to the Son, to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. In the name of the Father, amen. And of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Franciscan Friar (9:15)

All right, thanks, everybody. I enjoyed that one. You believe in the forgiveness of sins? Tell your face. Oh, gosh.

Father Mark Mary (9:22)

Got to put it in my mirror.

Franciscan Friar (9:23)

All right. Anyway, thanks for joining me. Thanks for praying with me today. Thank you, Jesus, for your goodness and your mercy, Father. Look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow.

Father Mark Mary (9:30)

Poco, poco, friends.

Franciscan Friar (9:32)

Bye now.