First of all we have to bring our sins out into the open before Our Blessed Lord and that we do by means of a searching and thorough self-examination undertaken as in his presence.  Then, once we have them arrayed in front of us, we must own up to them, confess them systematically and in detail.  There is no substitute for this if there is to be room in our souls for God.  So we have to go round with Our Lord and help him drive them out one after another.

That is not a pleasant business because it disturbs our pride and self-esteem.  But Holy Scripture gives a straight answer to anyone who likes to pretend that it is not necessary: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (NRSV, 1 John 1:8-9).

We do not confess our sins in order to inform God of what we have done.  He knows that far better then we do.  He saw us commit them.  We own our sins so that we may disown them.  We now say to God that those particular things which once we loved and willed, we now hate and abandon.