Forgiveness, A Formality

When I ask God to forgive me, "I speak as a man" (to borrow the expression of Saint Paul the Apostle); it is said for convenience, and does not adequately or literally convey my understanding of God's mercy, which is infinite and freely given before I desire it. To be precise, it is not God who must forgive me, for God has never judged me; it is I who must repent.

Confession is for my own benefit, and for the purification of my own soul. It is something I owe to myself, and not to God; for God was never compromised or corrupted by my sins; I have only hurt myself. I have only myself to blame, and only myself to forgive; for all of the choices were mine.

Therefore, an appropriate and conscious way to speak would be to say:

"Lord, I know that You, in Your great love, have already absolved me and called me back into Your fold. Nevertheless, for my own edification, let me confess my transgressions and repent of them as I may. Though You have compassion for my sins, still I must do all that I can to disown them. And though you have never judged me, I know You will forgive me now as a matter of form, seeing that we have a precedent in the baptism of Your Son by John the Forerunner."

For, when Jesus had no need to be baptised, and John was unworthy of baptising him, yet, because it was seemly, the annointing took place: 'Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.' Christ, being perfect, had no need to humble himself in this way, but, had he not done so, he would have ceased in that moment to be the Christ; and this could never happen.

So, if even Jesus, who was faithful concerning the greatest things, did not neglect the smallest, how much more so ought we to observe these things? If Christ, who understood the reality of justification by grace better than anyone, remained faithful to "the last tittle" of the law, then how much more so ought we to perform the works prescribed? And if he who is exalted above all things still humbles himself, how much more so ought we to humble ourselves?

Truly, to be alert, one must stay alert. The watchful are only watchful because they keep watch; moment after moment after moment, day after day after day. The righteous continue to be righteous, and the perfect remain perfect.