The Destructive Power of Sin vs. The Healing Power of Confession, Repentance and Restoration
Dear Pali Pres Family,
Last week I was fortunate enough to take a vacation and spend some time with Mary and the boys in Canada. We had a lovely time with Mary’s family, enjoying the beautiful countryside of our neighbor to the north.
My trip happened to coincide with Pope Frances’ visit to Canada, which made major headlines (his visit, not mine, of course). Not being from Canada, I had a lot to learn about the historic nature of the Pope’s visit and what it meant for a nation still trying to heal from some very painful wounds—painful wounds that are all too familiar to us here in the US as well.
For those who don’t know the sad history, from the 19th century until the 1990s more than 150,000 Indigenous children were obliged to attend state-funded schools in an effort to forcibly assimilate them into Canadian society. More than half of those schools were run by the Catholic church. The children in these schools were often subject to terrible living conditions, including disease and hunger. Survivors have also described physical and sexual abuse, often at the hands of priests and Catholic laypeople.
In 2006 the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) was established with the aim of bringing a fair and lasting resolution to the legacy of the Indian Residential Schools. However, a great deal of pain remains among former students and Indigenous communities.
During his visit, Pope Francis apologized for the role the Catholic church played in the residential school system and begged for forgiveness:
“I am sorry. I ask for forgiveness, in particular, for the ways in which many members of the church and of religious communities cooperated, not least through their indifference, in projects of cultural destruction and forced assimilation promoted by the governments of that time, which culminated in the system of residential schools.”
As I educate myself on the history of Canada and the injustices of the residential schools, I am filled with sadness over the destructive power of sin. At the same time, I am moved by the healing power of confession, repentance, and restoration. Pope Francis’ visit to Canada and humble message to its people is a powerful reminder of the incredible need for healing and reconciliation in our world. As Christians we are called by our Savior to live not perfect, sin-free lives, but lives of honesty, truth, forgiveness, and justice. May we each reflect on what this means in our relationships with one another and God’s call on our lives.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Matt
PS—if you would like to read more about the residential schools, the IRSSA, and the Pope’s recent visit, you can do so by visiting here, here, and here.
