It doesn't take a great deal of imagination to see that the parable of the Prodigal Son is the perfect image of the sacrament of reconciliation. "Only the heart of Christ who knows the depth of His Father's love, could reveal to us the abyss of His mercy in so simple and beautiful a way."(Catechism of the Catholic Church) In the confessional, the priest awaits the return of prodigal sons and daughters with eager longing. It's so lovely to see a country like Italy where old priests stand beside the confessionals for long hours on the lookout, as in the parable, for a lone figure coming into view with a burden that God alone can remove. How sad it is that this embrace of the merciful Father is not sought out by many today!

Like the son in the parable, we often begin to seek forgiveness with imperfect sorrow, for selfish, fearful reasons. Or we are not aware of the full depths of our sins. Only in the graced encounter with Christ in the sacrament do we see ourselves as we truly are; there, our imperfect motives are converted into perfect contrition so that we might merit to hear the words "Your sins have been forgiven, go in peace". If we lose the sense of sin then we also lose the joy of being saved, and this is the beginning of heavenly joy. Do you experience the joy of being saved? The deep, abiding joy of belonging to God, of having been bought at a price, of being accepted by the one who said "All that the Father gives me will come to me; and Him who comes to me I will not cast out. (Jn. 6.37.)? In this sacrament not only are our sins forgiven, but we are put back in relationship with God and the Church. There is the joy of communion with all that is holy and beautiful and true.

Let us not forget the elder brother. Even if he had not left the Father with a break, an obvious mortal sin, he stayed ostensibly close and yet his heart was far from him. He worked at pious practices without fruit or purpose. He was selfish and his pettiness grew. He did not ever check his venial sins but let them grow more numerous until the full extent of his pride and vanity was revealed by his hard attitude toward his brother. We must always humble ourselves before God or we will forget that we are sinners. This is why, if priests are to be merciful confessors, they must be penitents themselves.