I was on the World Youth Day trip with the Community of Saint John, a religious order that ministers to students at Seton Hall that has Saint John the Apostle as their patron. Before we began attending World Youth Day proper in Krakow, the cathedral of the city my group was staying in would have Eucharistic Adoration in the evening. On one day when there was Eucharistic Adoration, they had brought relics of Saint Mary Magdalene and placed them at the foot of the altar where the monstrance was. Due to the presence of Mary Magdalene through the relics and the presence of John the Apostle through the religious order, I felt like I was at the foot of the Cross.
Those in attendance would each take turns kneeling in front of the monstrance, and I eventually decided to do the same. When it became my turn to kneel in front of Our Lord, I began to feel this strong sense that I was like the Prodigal Son returning back to his father. I had committed many serious sins in my past, and yet Jesus was willing to forgive me of all of them.
Whenever we become aware of our sinfulness, we have two options: we can either wallow in self-pity and shame, or we can turn to our Lord and drink the cup of mercy that He offers to us. That day nine years ago, I chose the latter and immediately went to confession, for a priest was available to hear my sins. This Lent, I invite you all to look on your past and present sins not with self-pity, but instead as an opportunity to turn back to your Loving Father, who always has His arms wide open to embrace you like the father who embraced his prodigal son.
