We celebrate several liturgies over the course of a year. A liturgy is a formal and set form of prayer, the most obvious example being the Mass. The structure and the majority of the words are given to us, which has a wonderful unifying power, knowing that when Mass is celebrated here it is being celebrated using the same structure and words all around the world.
This morning pupils in the Prep School celebrated a different liturgy, a Liturgy of Reconciliation. Lent is a particular time for examining our conscience and turning back to God to seek forgiveness for times when we may have strayed. With the help of Fr Stephen we reflected on the parable of the lost sheep, prayed together, sang together, and offered together an act of contrition. Afterwards, with thanks to Fr Stephen, those pupils who have received the sacrament of First Reconciliation were invited to remain for individual confession and absolution.
Thinking about sin and the times when we have strayed from God’s will can make us uncomfortable, but I really love this annual Liturgy of Reconciliation. It is wonderful to be reminded that whatever we may do, God will never stop loving us. God will never stop loving us and simply asks us to love Him in the same way in return. When we choose to do that God rejoices, as the shepherd rejoiced when the one lost sheep was found and returned to him.
God loves you. God loves me. God is love. There is no more important message.
