The Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity
The Collect.
O |
LORD, we beseech thee, absolve thy people from their offences; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins, which by our frailty we have committed. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.
M |
Y little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2.And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)
Though God is ever ready to absolve those who truly repent of their sins in Christ, He nonetheless desires that we make petition for the grant of absolution. Even in worldly judiciaries, pardons are not granted except by formal petition. God is like many loving fathers of this world who dote upon their children. His joy is made full when they ask for those things He is anxious and desirous to grant.
Who are those people who are privileged to receive this absolution from God? Who are those referred to as “thy people?” Concerning the Articles of Religion, the catechumen is asked their meaning:
Question. What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy Belief?
Answer. First, I learn to believe in God the Father, who hath made me, and all the world. Secondly, in God the Son, who hath redeemed me, and all mankind. Thirdly, in God the Holy Ghost, who sanctifieth me, and all the elect people of God. (1662 BoCP)
This Collect is not the prayer of the profligate sinner, but the elect child of God. It is a prayer to be addressed communally in Church among those who know Christ as Lord and who petition for absolution of those sins which they have committed through a prevailing weakness of the flesh. These are NOT intentional sins, but sins performed in absent-mindedness of duty to God. Sins of both commission AND omission fall into the categories for which we pray absolution.
Herein lies an extremely important truth – only God can forgive and absolve sins. It is not the priest or Bishop who absolves, but simply pronounces the will of God to absolve and forgive all who truly repent. The Absolution is simply a confirmation by the celebrant of those promises made sure in Christ to forgive all who appeal to Him. The absolution as contained in the Order for Holy Communion reads:
A |
LMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The absolution for Morning Prayer reads:
A |
LMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live, hath given power, and commandment, to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins. He pardoneth and absolveth all those who truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel.
Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance, and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present; and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy; so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Of course, we seek absolution in the Collect for one purpose: to clean our consciences and to remove guilt of sins. It is intended to reflect a conscious effort on the part of the believer to amend constantly his sinful ways through the sanctifying efficacy of the Holy Ghost. We are not perfect creatures. We are subject to the same desires and temptations of the flesh as all men have been from the Garden Gate at Eden. But when we have come in to the family of God, our spirits do constantly battle with the vulgar and profane promptings of the flesh to overcome and to put our bodies under subjection to the Spirit.
Every sin committed is like a rope binding our flesh and subduing our spirits. Once repented and absolved, those ropes of bondage are cut from us, and we are free in Christ. through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins, which by our frailty we have committed. Only by the goodness, and not the judgment, of God can our sins be remitted and absolved. Were justice to be dealt every sinner, no sins would ever be absolved. We stand convicted and deserve the fires of Hell, but Christ has paid our sin-debt for us by His sufferings and passion of the cross. This opens the flood-gates of mercy for all who will receive. Have you?
