God's Initiative in The Praxis Of the Sacrament of Reconciliation An Interpretation of Hosea's Story and The Parables Of Luke 15

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dc.contributor.authorMaravi, Javier Antonio Barrientos
dc.date.accessioned2021-03-24T07:06:59Z
dc.date.available2021-03-24T07:06:59Z
dc.date.issued2004
dc.description.abstractThe Sacrament of Reconciliation is the main reason for this research. In order to understand in a better way this sacrament of the mercy of God, I thought of presenting the biblical perspective of the reality behind our rituals and practices in regard to this sacrament, namely the grace of God that is offered to everyone and that precedes any act of conversion. One of the main reasons why I chose this topic is the crisis I have seen in regard to this sacrament. Both penitents and ministers in some ways seem to have lost sight of the mysteries behind this sacrament. I believe that the knowledge of the biblical background of this sacrament can help us to understand in a better way that God is at work in reconciling the world to himself through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit; and therefore the Sacrament of Reconciliation is the privileged place of meeting with the mercy of God. He is the one who prompts each one of us to come back to him to welcome us as he did with the prodigal son. Obviously, this essay is not a thorough research on the biblical and theological foundations of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, not even a presentation of its fundamental truths, but a presentation of one basic truth: the initiative of God who, having entered into a relationship with humanity in the person of Jesus Christ, constantly looks towards humanity to restore us to his friendship and love any time we go away from him deceived by the Evil One, as it happened to our forefathers in the text of Genesis. In brief, the way I present this topic is as follows: in Chapter I the main purpose is to underline the story of ilosea as the best example of God's faithful love for Israel despite Israel's unfaithfulness. In Chapter II, the three stories of Luke chapter 15 give to the understanding of God's love for humanity an additional element: God's joy when a sinner repents. Finally, in Chapter III the main purpose is to compare the findings of Chapters I and II with the theology of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In order to do so, 1 briefly present some basic ideas regarding the sacrament. One of the most amazing mysteries of all times is the creation of the world and human beings. I find particularly interesting the way God conies to meet humanity. He created man and woman to live in communion with him, nevertheless sin put a division between the Creator and the creatures. Despite this situation God has constantly been looking for ways to restore this communion with humanity. The history of Israel is, therefore, the most impressive story of this passionate God who loves humanity with steadfast love. The story of Hosea a witness to this reality as follows. First, God's love for humanity is steadfast in spite of humanity's sinfulness. Second, humanity's sinfulness is clearly portrayed in Gomer's unfaithfulness. Third, God's merciful love for the people of Israel comes to rescue them from the misery they have reached by forgetting the Lord. Fourth. Israel needs to accept God's love and respond to him in faithfulness and truth. Chapter 11 deals with God's love for his people that in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ has reached its best expression. In the same way that God visited his people in the person of Hosea, two thousand years ago in the person of Jesus Christ God the Father continued visiting his people prompting them to conversion. God the Father who through Jesus Christ reaches out to sinners is the 'Good Shepherd of Israel. Jesus who is the image of the Father showed sinners the depths of God's love for all. The novelty of Luke's gospel in regard to God's love for humanity is the element of 'joy' which the evangelist stresses in chapter 15. Finally, Chapter III combines the themes of the first two chapters in order to present the Sacrament of Reconciliation as the up-to-date version of God's love for humanity. A brief presentation of this sacrament is done in order to acknowledge the Catholic understanding of this sacrament and its importance in the economy of salvation. Putting together the main ideas of Chapters I and 11 it is possible to see that in the history of humanity everything is a gratuitous intervention of God on our behalf. God never gives up in inviting us to live in full communion with him. In the person of Jesus Christ, humanity has experienced the depths of God's loving mercy. After Jesus, the Church continues this work of mercy and administers the graces of God following Jesus' command to bind and loose. The ministry of reconciliation as exercised by Jesus of Nazareth is a constant reminder to priests that God is at work through Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit moving people's hearts to come back to him and thus be reconciled with him and neighbour through the ministry of the Church.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12342/1249
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherTangaza University Collegeen_US
dc.subjectPraxisen_US
dc.subjectSacrament of Reconciliationen_US
dc.subjectHosea's Storyen_US
dc.subjectHosea's Storyen_US
dc.subjectParables Of Luke 15en_US
dc.titleGod's Initiative in The Praxis Of the Sacrament of Reconciliation An Interpretation of Hosea's Story and The Parables Of Luke 15en_US
dc.typeLong Essayen_US
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