Have mercy lord, wash me from all my sins

God in his anger sent a fiery serpent among the people. Their bite killed many, until the people confess their sins. Moses at God’s command built them a fiery serpent and raised it in a standard, such that anyone who was bitten, who looked at it survived. Fiery Serpent: ‘Fiery’ translates ‘saraph’. In the book […]

God in his anger sent a fiery serpent among the people. Their bite killed many, until the people confess their sins. Moses at God’s command built them a fiery serpent and raised it in a standard, such that anyone who was bitten, who looked at it survived.

Fiery Serpent: ‘Fiery’ translates ‘saraph’. In the book of prophet Isaiah, fiery was referred to as winged serpent/dragon (Is.30:6). Seraph which means fiery refers also to seraphim; angels with six wings who stand before God, as described in the vision of Isaiah. They were singing Holy, Holy Holy Lord, while they cover their faces and legs with four wings and two they fly.

The fiery serpent was symbolic. It was not actually the fiery serpent that gave them live but God. It was a way of bringing their attention back to God and they were healed when they actually turned to God. Jesus according the gospel will be lifted like the serpent, when men turn their thoughts to him and believe in him, they too will find eternal life.

We are interested in four things here:

4    Sinfulness

4    Recognition of sinfulness/sorrow for sin (contrition)

4    Link to God (Confession)

4    Brazen Fiery Serpent raised in a standard( Christ)

It is not difficult to discover the sins of the Israelites. They turned against God even after receiving a favour from him. God who answered their prayers and confronted their enemies was abandoned, shortly after that. If we follow God without allowing his will to happen, it will not be difficult to see ourselves behaving like the Israelites. May your will be done, as it is in heaven, should be our prayer (LK.11:1ff).

Are you a sinner? In the first reading, all the people added infidelity upon infidelity, copied the shameful practices of the nations, defiling the temple consecrated to God.

Recognition of Sinfulness (Contrition): It is not difficult in the analysis above to discover, the demonstration of repentance by the Israelites, which moved them to apologise to God through Moses. “O wash me with Hyssop, till I am clean, wash me till I am whiter than snow” (Ps. 51: 6ff). Lent is a time to recognise our sinfulness and make a choice, identifying with the light. “On these grounds is sentence pronounced, that though the light has come into the World, men have shown they prefer darkness to the light” (Jn.3:14ff).

It is not enough to feel sorrow for sin, this is only a background for confession, which is called Contrition. Confession is not enough without Contrition, yet Contrition cannot replace confession.

Contrition: About Contrition, the Church teaches, among the penitent’s acts, contrition occupies first place. Contrition is “sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with resolution not to sin again” (CCC No.1452).

Confession (Link to God): The confession or disclosure of sins, even from a simply human point of view, frees us and facilitates our reconciliation with others. Through such an admission man looks squarely at sins he is guilty of, takes responsibility of them and thereby opens himself again to God and to the communion of the Church in order to make a new future possible(CCC 1455). Regular and sincere confessions are recommended, through them a sinner forms his conscience, fight against evil tendencies, receives healing from Christ, makes progress in the spiritual life and is challenged to practice mercy having received so much mercy.

Satisfaction: Sometimes, it looks funny to talk about satisfaction after pronouncement of forgiveness. Understanding that sin has a multiple implications; it is offence against neighbour and an offence against God. Thus satisfaction should be understood as a way of paying back for an error committed.

Absolution: Is it enough without absolution? Absolution is the last aspect of sacramental confession. It reminds us, the authority of Christ to forgive sins. This authority he handed over to the Church. “Receive the Holy Spirit, whatever sin you forgive they are forgiven, whatever sins you retain they are retained” (Jn.20:22ff). The apostles received this authority, and handed it down to their successors; bishops and priests. The confessor therefore, exercises the function of a merciful judge, setting people free in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Supplication: Forgive us our trespasses; Lead us not into temptation; Deliver us from all evil. May our beloved Mother Mary intercede for you, now and always, Amen.

Rev. Fr. Charles Ndubisi, Youth Animator, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria