By Deacon Frank, Catholic Exchange, Oct. 27, 2023
“Deacon Frank” is a permanent deacon in the United States. He is involved in the Eucharistic Revival.
Last month, our Jewish Brethren solemnly celebrated Yom Kippur, a Day of Atonement, to atone for their sins as prescribed by God in the Book of Leviticus. As is the case with many events, people, and things contained in the Old Testament, Yom Kippur prefigures a more meaningful form of atonement which Jesus would institute on Easter Sunday evening. Jesus would elevate this form of atonement to a sacrament. Namely, the great Sacrament of Reconciliation.
But before that happened, and in order to better prepare the people for this great sacrament, God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of the Lord. John’s mission was to proclaim a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Not that John’s baptism had the power to forgive sins any more than a Day of Atonement did for the Jewish people, then or now. Though these actions were a necessary means of preparing hearts and minds, atoning and repenting are actions taken by the penitent not by God. …
