Forgiveness & Reconciliation

Objectives Each teen to become aware of their need for forgiveness. That God that they are loved beyond measure by our gracious God. The sacrament of confession is a gift from God meant for us.

Key Scripture Verse John 20:22-23 And he says, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."

Music Amazing Grace My Chains are Gone by Chris Tomlin http://youtu.be/Jbe7OruLk8I Be Forgiven by Tom Booth – Spirit & Song Grace Like Rain – Todd Agnew http://youtu.be/zcGJb-mPMmg Majesty by Martin Smith http://youtu.be/4vkDN_E1_xE Oh Lead Me by Delirious https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDgLzhofceo Run to the Cross by Sarah Kroger http://youtu.be/Z3pTVeysnMk

Atmosphere Cross (large), large heavy chains, chain links (enough for every person), bucket. Display cloth, candles, etc in the color purple to remind us of sorrow and forgiveness.

As each person enters the room give them a chain link. Ask them to carry this until told otherwise.

Community Building After the teens arrive play a few fun games to encourage laughter and teamwork. This step will help open up the teens to the discussion and teachings and help them to be receptive to the message of Forgiveness. A variety of games can be found at AllforGod.com/youth-ministry-resources/

YM Introduction to Message Explain that tonight is about dropping the chain that holds us down. Explain chains hold people prisoners. God wants us to be set free. Why on earth would you not go to confession? (Brainstorm)  I can confess directly to God.  I don’t need it, I’m not doing anything really wrong  Its embarrassing  Priest will think less of me

Witness 1: Embarrassment I don’t know about you-but I want people to think well of me. Especially someone I admire, like (insert name of Pastor or Priest). But if I really think about this one; then three things come to mind. First (Pastor/Priest’s Name) already knows I am not perfect. – no secret there.

© 2013 @2015 Totus Pro Deo - All for God. All rights reserved. Permission is given for single parish youth ministry use. Do not copy or distribute without written authorization. Second – and more importantly, it is precisely when people are humble enough to admit their shortcomings and ask for help that I most respect them. When I ask for forgiveness (Pastor/Priest’s Name) is not looking down on me; - instead he is able to reach out and help me. This is a major reason he chose to become a priest – so he could help us Third – all priests take a solemn vow of secrecy. In fact the seal of the confessional is so sacred that even the court systems recognize it and will not compel a priest to break it. Our secrets are safe with our priests. He will never reveal what you share.

Witness 2: Confessing Directly to God Each of us can confess directly to God. In fact it is the first step necessary to making a good Confession. Unless we realize we have done wrong, there is no forgiveness. The problem is if we stop here many of us will wonder- did God hear me? am I forgiven? maybe I need to apologize again…we get stuck right here, wondering and ashamed. It’s an easy place for doubt to creep in. Our heavenly Father knew this. It’s why He gave us more. In the bible – God’s Sacred Word – He states: “Upon this Rock I will build my church” (Matt 16:13-19) The first apostle to realize that Jesus is in fact the Messiah is Peter, whose name prior to this event was Simon. In Matthew we read the exchange – Blessed are you Simon, for no mere man has revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven…Literally Christ is telling Peter, I am building my church on you and I am going to give you my authority-it belongs to Christ, it is His to share. And then after the Resurrection-the apostles are gathered in a locked room and suddenly Jesus is right there with them. And he says: Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” John 20:22-23 Why would He do this? Why do we need this confession? I have to tell you - it is not Jesus who needs this sacrament, it is you and me. To hear those sweet words, “Your sins are forgiven.” The shame dissolves, there is no doubt. I know with all certainty I am forgiven.

Witness 3: Graces of the Sacrament First, did you know God gives us grace when we go to Confession? In the sacrament we receive forgiveness, Strength to resist temptation and Holiness. Every time we place ourselves in the presence of Jesus we are changed. We are given graces. In confession the first gift is the ability to resist sin. Not just the ones we confessed but all other sins too.

Secondly, we are made holy. I love that word-it means we are made sacred - we are set apart for God. Isn’t that awesome? Through this sacrament, God draws me closer

© 2013 @2015 Totus Pro Deo - All for God. All rights reserved. Permission is given for single parish youth ministry use. Do not copy or distribute without written authorization. to Himself - and by making me holy, he gives me the ability to help my family and friends. I can more clearly see, I can help draw them closer to God, to His peace, His joy, His love.

Drama Set Us Free by Casting Crown http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=0J2J9CNU Teen Leaders prepare skit ahead or show the video from “GodTube”

Teen Testimony, if possible or YM/Adult Leader speak about Teens If teen, tell a story about yourself and a pivotal change in your life through the Sacrament of Reconciliation or If YM/adult tell a story of a former teen – do not use names - who had a pivotal change in their life through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

This needs to be a story of how Jesus took the chains from that person. Example – a teen struggling with a compulsive or addictive behavior – lying, porn, weed, etc – who received the Sacrament and then was finally able to let go of their past and start on a better path. Another type of example could be a teen who was really struggling with their relationship with their family, or was surrounding their self with “friends” who were harmful. After the Sacrament they were able to live more peacefully within their family, or had the courage to let go of the harmful friendships.

YM Loving Challenge Reconciliation is a Gift from Jesus  It was the First gift of the Resurrection (Christ gave us the Sacrament in the Upper Room)  We are closer to God after receiving reconciliation Think about it – confession is the first gift Jesus gave us after the resurrection. And just as we flock to Mass on Sunday, we need to set aside our fears, our pride, whatever it is that is keeping us from confession. It is such a sweet gift from Jesus, oh those words I am forgiven - I am wanted, I am loved beyond measure by our gracious God - I am forgiven.

Closing Prayer Option 1: If possible arrange for one or more Priests to be available to hear confessions of the teens.

Confessions Invite teens to go to Confession, receive absolution, then drop the chain at the foot of the cross in the bucket. Play soft music as teens go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Have bibles available for reading scripture about forgiveness. After all have been to confession, listen to a worship song about forgiveness (see list above) and then pray the Our Father.

Option 2: If no Priests are available to hear confessions then use this prayer service.

Held Captive

© 2013 @2015 Totus Pro Deo - All for God. All rights reserved. Permission is given for single parish youth ministry use. Do not copy or distribute without written authorization. Invite teens to gather around a cross lit by candle light. Have them sit down and invite them to be silent. As the leader guide the teens to reflect on the cross. Ask them why it was that Jesus died on the cross. (If necessary remind them that they do not need to answer out loud, all are reflecting silently). “What was it that caused Jesus to make this sacrifice; it must have been very important to Him”. (Read from scripture) “He Himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.” - 1 Peter 2:24

Youth Minister Shares – Jesus willing chose the cross because He wanted to set us free. You see sin traps us. It binds us. It enslaves us. Sometimes we think we’re ok, no one noticed. But when we are truthful with ourselves we often feel ashamed, embarrassed, anxious, defensive, and more. We want to keep our sin hidden from people who think highly of us, so that they don’t think less of us. Sin damages us. It hurts us. And Jesus loves us too much to stand by and watch us hurt.

Take a few minutes and thing about what sin is trapping you. Ask God for the grace and strength to let go, to be set free, and live in that freedom of His forgiveness. (play soft music, pass out small slips of paper and pens/pencils)

Youth Minister Instructs – with the love and guidance of the Lord write down what sin you most need help in overcoming. What do you need forgiveness from, where do you need to be set free. This paper is for you. Carry it with you in safe place, maybe your wallet, and use it when you go to Confession. (pass out small cards with How to Prepare for Confession – include an examination of conscience and the Act of Contrition”, list when the sacrament is offered at your parish) Hold onto your chain as a reminder that God wants to set you free in the sacrament of Confession. And this “Saturday afternoon” (inset day and time of your regular parish sacrament) after you have been set free, leave this chain link at the foot of the cross, and walk out into your life forgiven and new because of Christ’s love for you.

© 2013 @2015 Totus Pro Deo - All for God. All rights reserved. Permission is given for single parish youth ministry use. Do not copy or distribute without written authorization. Scripture Verses and Catechism of the Catholic Church (Adult Leaders read in preparation for youth meeting)

Matt 6:9-15 “This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.

Matt 16:13-19 “When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood[d] has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Matt 18:21-22 Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.

Mark 3:28-29 Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”

Mark 11:25 When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.”

John 20:22-23 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Romans 3:23-25 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith.

Romans 5:10 Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

© 2013 @2015 Totus Pro Deo - All for God. All rights reserved. Permission is given for single parish youth ministry use. Do not copy or distribute without written authorization. Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Colossians 1:20 and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven . Colossians 1:21-23 And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

1 Peter 1:16 “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

1 John 1:9 If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they may become white as wool.

CCC 1440-1444 Sin is before all else an offense against God, a rupture of communion with him. At the same time it damages communion with the Church. For this reason conversion entails both God's forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church…Only God forgives sins. Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, "The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" and exercises this divine power: "Your sins are forgiven."

© 2013 @2015 Totus Pro Deo - All for God. All rights reserved. Permission is given for single parish youth ministry use. Do not copy or distribute without written authorization. Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his name..… he entrusted the exercise of the power of absolution to the apostolic ministry which he charged with the "ministry of reconciliation."…. During his public life Jesus not only forgave sins, but also made plain the effect of this forgiveness: he reintegrated forgiven sinners into the community of the People of God …. A remarkable sign of this is the fact that Jesus receives sinners at his table, a gesture that expresses in an astonishing way both God’s forgiveness and the return to the bosom of the People of God. In imparting to his apostles his own power to forgive sins the Lord also gives them the authority to reconcile sinners with the Church. This ecclesial dimension of their task is expressed most notably in Christ's solemn words to Simon Peter: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."…

CCC 1451 Among the penitent's acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again”.

CCC 1455-56 The confession (or disclosure) of sins, even from a simply human point of view, frees us and facilitates our reconciliation with others. Through such an admission man looks squarely at the sins he is guilty of, takes responsibility for them, and thereby opens himself again to God and to the communion of the Church in order to make a new future possible. Confession to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament of Penance.

CCC 1459-1461 Many sins wrong our neighbor. One must do what is possible in order to repair the harm (e.g., return stolen goods, restore the reputation of someone slandered, pay compensation for injuries). Simple justice requires as much. But sin also injures and weakens the sinner himself, as well as his relationships with God and neighbor. Absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused. Raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his full spiritual health by doing something more to make amends for the sin: he must "make satisfaction for" or "expiate" his sins. This satisfaction is also called "penance." Since Christ entrusted to his apostles the ministry of reconciliation, bishops who are their successors, and priests, the bishops' collaborators, continue to exercise this ministry. Indeed bishops and priests, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, have the power to forgive all sins "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

CCC 1464-1468 Priests must encourage the faithful to come to the sacrament of Penance and must make themselves available to celebrate this sacrament each time Christians reasonably ask for it. When he celebrates the sacrament of Penance, the priest is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep, of the Good Samaritan who binds up wounds, of the Father who awaits the prodigal son and welcomes him on his return, and of the just and impartial judge whose judgment is both just and merciful. The priest is the sign and the instrument of God's merciful love for the sinner. Given the delicacy and greatness of this ministry and the respect due

© 2013 @2015 Totus Pro Deo - All for God. All rights reserved. Permission is given for single parish youth ministry use. Do not copy or distribute without written authorization. to persons, the Church declares that every priest who hears confessions is bound under very severe penalties to keep absolute secrecy regarding the sins that his penitents have confessed to him. He can make no use of knowledge that confession gives him about penitents' lives. This secret, which admits of no exceptions, is called the "sacramental seal," because what the penitent has made known to the priest remains "sealed" by the sacrament.

CCC 1468 "The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God's grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship." Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament…