I will get up and go to my Father and shall say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
These words of the prodigal son are penitential in nature. These words are said after an examination of conscience. They sum up, the goal of this entire Lenten season, to turn back to the Lord. In a perfect contrition, the penitent recognizes his waywardness, and with a contrite heart finds the will to change, not simply by dreading the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but because he has offended God, who is deserving of all love. This is the first step of making amends. Through grace and the strength of the sacraments of baptism, penance and Eucharist, the sinner is welcomed back in the loving arms of God.
As the second verse of the hymn, “Loving and Forgiving” from psalm 103 points out,
“As heaven soars above the earth, so great the love of God for us. As far as east is from the west, the Lord takes our sins from us.” https://bit.ly/3JbC6vL March 26 and 27 Hymns *The Last two hymns are for 12 Noon only