In his homily at Santa Marta, Pope Francis spoke about God's love in the sacrament of penance, saying it is as strong as that of a mother and an “embrace of love.”
POPE FRANCIS
“When we approach the sacrament of penance, please: we must not think we are going to the dry cleaners to remove dirt. No. We are going to receive the embrace of love of this faithful God, who is always waiting for us. Always.”
He encouraged everyone to rejoice in hope, since God will never leave anyone alone and loves them like a parent.
EXCERPTS OF PAPAL HOMILY
(Vatican News)
“The Lord is ever faithful and that he never forgets us, and this, he said, gives us reason to rejoice and to hope. God’s love is like the love of a mother. He never forgets us. Never. He is faithful to his covenant. This gives us security” and even in moments of difficulty we can be sure that He has not forgotten us.
God cannot disown himself, he cannot disown us, He cannot disown His love, He cannot disown His people, He cannot disown us because He loves us. This is the faithfulness of God. When we approach the sacrament of penance, please: we must not think we are going to the dry cleaners to remove dirt. No. We are going to receive the embrace of love of this faithful God, who is always waiting for us. Always.”
Pope Francis concluded with a reference to the Gospel reading of the day in which the doctors of the Law picked up stones to throw at Jesus so as to “overshadow the truth of the Resurrection” and reminded the faithful to rejoice in hope because God will never leave them alone, he loves them like a mother or a father would.
