by Pastor Justin Eller
It is during the “gathering” part of our liturgy that we corporately (as one body of people) and individually (as one member of the body) confess our sins and hear the words of mercy and grace in the absolution (forgiveness of sins). It is only by the Holy Spirit’s presence in us that we can truly feel sorrow for what we have done and left undone and recognize the presence of sin within us and our presence within sin. All of this generates the desire to turn away from sin and back to God. In our corporate confession of sins, when we resign to the fact that we justly deserve the condemnation because of living enslaved to sin, we are joined to Christ’s death. And, when we accept the words of forgiveness as liberating good news, then we are united with Christ in his resurrection.
