“Just as an animal becomes a stronger beast of burden and more beautiful to behold the more often and better it is fed, so too confession - the more often it is used and the more carefully it is made as to both lesser and greater sins - conveys the soul increasingly forward and is so pleasing to God that it leads the soul to God's very heart.”

"He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." (Proverbs 28:13)

Gospel Text: (MT 9:1-8)

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town.
And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
"Courage, child, your sins are forgiven."
At that, some of the scribes said to themselves,
"This man is blaspheming."
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said,
"Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise and walk'?
But that you may know that the Son of Man
has authority on earth to forgive sins"–
he then said to the paralytic,
"Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home."
He rose and went home.
When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe
and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

This is the essence of the gospel message: you don’t need to be healthy enough, wealthy enough, well known enough, or anything enough to be forgiven, i.e. to heal your relationship with God and the members of your community. 

Forgiveness flows from God as a free gift of grace. – All you have to do is ask – Go to Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation!