forgetting sins
"None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered." —Ezekiel 18:22
We all have committed sins of which we are or should be ashamed. The Lord promises us: "None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him" (Ez 18:22). "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He put our transgressions from us" (Ps 103:12). The Lord "will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins" (Mi 7:19).
To accept the Lord's forgetful forgiveness, we must "turn away from all the sins" we have "committed" and keep all the Lord's statutes (Ez 18:21). If we practice virtue and thereby do "what is right and just" (Ez 18:21-22), our sins will be forgiven and forgotten.
Repent, go to Confession, and by God's grace live a holy life. The Lord wants to forget your sins, and He wants you to forget them too. Your memories will no longer sadden, confuse, or torture you. The memory of His forgiveness will wipe away the memory of your sins. In this year of the Great Jubilee, let Jesus be Lord of your memories.
Prayer: Jesus, may I "do this in memory" of You (Lk 22:19, our transl).
Promise: "If you bring your gift to the altar and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift at the altar, go first to be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift." —Mt 5:23-24
Praise: In imitation of the Father, St. Patrick forgot the sins committed against him (see Ps 103:12). He freely chose to return to his former captors to teach them the good news.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, July 28, 1999
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 3, 1999