Reflection: Repairer of the breach...Restorer of ruined dwellings...

Your people shall rebuild the ancient ruins; the foundations from ages past You shall raise up; "Repairer of the breach, they shall call You; Restorer of ruined dwellings."  Isaiah 58:12

When a house is a home, the owners of the home care for the house, just as they care for one another. When a house is abandoned, it does not take long for it to fall into disrepair. Houses require routine maintenance and upkeep. Over time, things inside and outside break, faucets drip and doors creak, ice dams build up and roofs leak.

And so it is with our souls. When we abandon God and stop receiving the Sacraments, our souls suffer. Before long, we move away from God. It can happen, little by little, in subtle ways. Our souls were created for eternal life with our Father. Our Creator infused a soul into our bodies and He gave us a Guardian Angel to protect and guide us along the way.

How do our souls become ruined?  Sin ruins our souls. Sin breaks our relationship from God. To keep our souls from being ruined, God gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation where we confess our sins. When we sin, we turn our back on God, but God always provides a way for us to return to Him.

To the penitent, God provides a way back. He encourages those who are losing hope and has chosen for them the lot of Truth. Sirach 17:24

God gave us the Ten Commandments. They are commands; they are not suggestions. We are all sinners. God gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation to restore our souls.

God loves us so much. Jesus told Saint Faustina to bring her miseries to this Throne of Grace. It is where Truth and Mercy meet. In confession, Jesus is there, waiting for you and He desires to pour out His grace and mercy upon you. Receive this Sacrament often and you will come to recognize your sins more easily and you will come to know yourself better.

"Confession is an act of honesty and courage, an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God."  Saint John Paul II

How does God restore our souls in confession? Jesus pours His grace, light and love upon you when you confess your sins. It is Divine Mercy for your soul. As seen in this picture, imagine the grace and mercy of God pouring down upon your soul restoring you. Bring your miseries and sufferings to confession and the priest will speak words of healing for your soul. After you have made your confession, the priest will absolve your sins. He will tell you to go in peace and to sin no more. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we receive forgiveness of sins, mercy, healing and grace.

Don't let your soul fall into disrepair. Make a promise to Jesus that you will go to confession often and ask Our Lady to help you keep your promise...

The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. In green pastures, He makes me lie down; to still waters, He leads me; He restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of His Name. Psalm 23:1-3