Hilary and I saw the movie Bad Times At the El Royale. It’s rough but fun, and I really like Jeff Bridges.
At the end of the movie there’s an interesting moment (I won’t give too much away). The priest character offers a blessing over a desperate young man. He “absolves him of sins,” and the boy seems to experience the peace he’s been so desperate to find.
That’s a fundamental part of the Catholicism. The desperate—those burdened by guilt—go to a priest and ask for forgiveness. The priest—with no special powers but simply a representation—stands in the gap and offers grace and mercy on God’s behalf.
How can they do that?
Well, it’s already been done.
Grace is yours.
Mercy is yours.
That’s the GOOD NEWS of Jesus coming to earth, dying and resurrecting from the dead. God made peace with humanity and offers each of us life with Him—now and forever.
The reason we go to priests and pastors is because we don’t believe it. We need someone—a human we can see and touch—to tell us what we want to believe is true. Someone to look us in the eye and tell us we’re forgiven.
Like the young man from the movie, tortured by his sins from the past, we need tangible reminders—from actual humans—that we are forgiven and free.
And guess what… even more than the priest, the person who can be the most profound conduit of God’s grace is the man or woman who’s been hurt. The very person who was injured or wronged; that person is in the strongest position to offer life-changing mercy. It’s difficult—unfair even—but it’s participating in the ongoing life of Jesus… the mission of God… the flow of grace and the renewal of all things. It’s worth it.
Today is Halloween. What if we threw grace around like candy on Halloween? What if we gave it away, for free, and by the fist-full. Even to the little monsters in our lives. (Keep your boundaries… but, still… grace.)
You, my friend, are absolved of all your sins. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. You are forgiven.
Now, go, give this same grace away.