The need for Confession

One of the most astonishing things which people say is that they have no need to go to Confession because they have no sins to confess.  What makes it so astonishing is that it is clearly untrue.

Have they never left out their morning and evening prayers, never stayed away from Church, never lost their temper, never borne grudges, never told lies, never broken promises, never sworn, never stolen anything, never said nasty things about other people?  St John the Apostle gave the answer long ago when he said, “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).