We continue our reflection on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Yesterday, we reflected on the need for assurance of forgiveness. This Sacrament provides us the opportunity of countering the root of sin, which is pride, with the virtue of humility. It humbles us to confess our sins to God through the ministry of a priest. But admitting our faults verbally to another deflates our ego. But besides this, confessing our sins helps us to release them from within and bring what was hidden in darkness into the light, which gives  us freedom. When a person goes to a counselor or therapist and spills his "guts", basically the counselor or therapist listens. Afterwards the person may feel better, having spoken the "nausea" within and released it. The same thing happens in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We spill our sins before the priest, who basically listens. The very confession of our sins openly gives us a sense of freedom. They are no longer ours. We have let them go. We could only do this by the grace of God and the grace of the Sacrament begins the healing process. God's plan and purpose are beyond our understanding. We humbly and  obediently submit to his plan.