Central to this season of repentance and renewal is God’s unfailing mercy. We bring out all those beautiful minor-key songs that remind us of our own sinfulness. We sing of our need for forgiveness and wholeness. But did you know the Penitential Act is not about telling God that we are sorry? In fact, we are praising God for his mercy! Our loving God does not dwell on all the ways in which we screw up. He knows we will do plenty of that to ourselves. He looks beyond our transgressions, and smiles upon our goodness.

When we enter into the penitential act, we do so with heartfelt gratitude for God’s compassionate love. Consider the overwhelming presence of brokenness, sin, and hatred that seems to fill and surround our world at this hour. The over-arching mercy of God is most certainly cause for hope and joyful praise.

God’s anger lasts but a moment. His love endures for all time. – Psalm 30