Reflect on the attitudes you have towards your sins

Jesus answered them: "Verily, verily, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin. A slave does not stay in the house forever, but always remains a son. So if the Son frees you, then you will be truly free. " John 8: 34–36

Jesus wants to free you, but do you want to free yourself? Intellectually this should be an easy question to answer. Of course you want your freedom! Who wouldn't do it? But on a practical level, this question is more difficult to answer. In practice, many people live very well in sin. Sin offers deceptive satisfaction from which it can be difficult to get away. Sin can make you "feel" well in the moment, even if the long-term effects are that it strips your freedom and joy. But so often that momentary "satisfaction" is enough for many people to keep coming back.

And you? Do you want to be free to live as a son or daughter of the Most High God? If you answer "Yes", prepare to be painful, but deliciously. Overcoming sin requires purification. The process of "letting go" of sin requires true sacrifice and commitment. It requires you to turn to the Lord in absolute trust and abandonment. In this way, you experience a sort of death for yourself, for your passions and for your selfish will. This hurts, at least at the level of your fallen human nature. But it's like surgery that aims to remove cancer or some infections. Surgery can hurt, but it's the only way to get rid of the disease you have. The Son is the Divine Surgeon and the way he frees you is through his own suffering and death. The crucifixion and death of Jesus brought life into the world. His death destroyed the disease of sin and our voluntary acceptance of the remedy for his death means that we must let him destroy the disease of sin in us through his death. It must be "cut" so to speak and removed by our Lord.

Lent is a time, more than any other, in which you must sincerely focus on your sin for the reason of identifying those things that keep you tied, so that you can invite the Divine Doctor to enter your wounds and heal yourself. Don't let Lent pass without honestly examining your conscience and repenting your sins wholeheartedly. The Lord wants you to be free! Desire it yourself and enter the purification process so that you are relieved of your heavy burdens.

Reflect today on your attitude towards your personal sins. First, can you humbly admit your sin? Don't rationalize them or blame another. Face them and accept them as yours. Second, confess your sins. Reflect on your attitude towards the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is the sacrament of freedom. It is very simple.Enter, admit all your sins, express pain and free yourself. If you find it difficult, you trust your feelings of fear rather than the truth. Third, rejoice in the freedom that the Son of God offers you. It is a gift beyond everything we deserve. Think about these three things today and for the rest of Lent, and your Easter will be a real thank you!

Lord, I wish to be freed from all sin in order to be able to live in the freedom of being Your child. Help me, dear Lord, to face my sin with honesty and openness. Give me the courage I need to admit my sin in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, so that I can rejoice in all that you have given me through your suffering and death. Jesus I believe in you.