During his life, Jesus forgave sins regularly. He exercised this power in his human life telling us, "the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" (Matt. 9:6). Since Jesus would not always be with the Church visibly, he gave his power to the apostles, who passed this on to priests.
Jesus asked the apostles, and therefore priests, to follow his example: "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you" (John 20:21). Just as the apostles were to carry Christ’s message to the whole world, so they were to carry his forgiveness: "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt. 18:18).
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us that the human person is a loving being called to forgive and be forgiven. Jesus accepted all types of people and forgave all for their sins, to show us that God always forgives us. God understands that we have free will, and that we can chose to do what is right and wrong. But, during the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God will always welcome us and forgive us, as He sees us in a more positive light than we can ever see ourselves. He will always want to restore our relationship and will never abandon us.
To explain this unconditional forgiveness to your children using Bible stories you could show your children this short video of the parable of the Prodigal son. This is especially helpful, as it explains forgiveness between a parent and child.
Jesus asked the apostles, and therefore priests, to follow his example: "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you" (John 20:21). Just as the apostles were to carry Christ’s message to the whole world, so they were to carry his forgiveness: "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt. 18:18).
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us that the human person is a loving being called to forgive and be forgiven. Jesus accepted all types of people and forgave all for their sins, to show us that God always forgives us. God understands that we have free will, and that we can chose to do what is right and wrong. But, during the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God will always welcome us and forgive us, as He sees us in a more positive light than we can ever see ourselves. He will always want to restore our relationship and will never abandon us.
To explain this unconditional forgiveness to your children using Bible stories you could show your children this short video of the parable of the Prodigal son. This is especially helpful, as it explains forgiveness between a parent and child.