Confirmation Session 7: It is wise to apologize for the hurt we’ve caused to God before asking for his gifts.

Published on February 19, 2023

There’s stuff that we do – being dishonest, unfaithful, selfish, spiteful, stealing, lots of stuff – that offends and hurts other people. But what we do to other people we also do to God – so this stuff also hurts and offends God.

Stuff that hurts God and other people is called sin.

When we offend and hurt God it’s like offending and hurting any other person.

It is difficult to love the person who has offended or hurt you.

Now try to imagine if the person who has hurt you then came and asked you for something really important, something that means a lot to you. Would you be likely to give that person whatever they might be looking for?

Probably not! But if that person was truly sorry and had made it up to you – paid you back double or treble – wouldn’t you be more likely to give that person what they were asking for?

Well, that’s how it is with God too. It is wise to apologize for the hurt we’ve caused God before asking for his gifts – gifts that are part of himself.

An important part of preparing for Confirmation – preparing to ask God for his Gifts – is apologizing for any offence we’ve caused to God.

I invite you therefore to consider celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).