"I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world."– Matt. 13:35
The ritual forgiveness of sins — the Sacrament of Penance, or Reconciliation, Absolution, Confession or whatever, has been called by the Pope himself to be an “odious sacrament“, one that nobody wants to subject themselves to unless really necessary. For unlike other means of grace, this sacramental encounter between penitent and confessor is actually a…
The first big public address that Jesus gave in the Gospel of Matthew is called the Parable of the Sower. It was certainly a fine one to start with. His use of natural imagery was vivid and instantly understandable and it set the tone of the urgent need to reform that characterized all his teaching.…