Father Mike Schmitz

Now, some Christians would say that, oh, yeah, we just confess your sins to each other.

You know, brother Christian, brother Christian, sister Christian, sister Christian.

But we also see that there is a word at the beginning of verse 16.

And so as James is writing about calling the presbytery, calling the priests of the church to anoint this man with oil and that his sin is going to be forgiven.

It says, therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed.

So this is all in the context.

That confession is in the context of the anointing or in the context of healing through the hands of the priests or the elders of the church.

Now, again, not making a point, just making a point.

Lastly, here's St.

Paul's letter to the Colossians, and there is a piece in St.

Paul's letter to the Colossians that is just incredible.

I mean, obviously, St.

Paul is manifestly pointing out the fact that Jesus Christ is preeminent, that he is the one through whom and for whom everything is made, and it's just so powerful.

And we can't dwell on that too much because it's just, it's the key.

Jesus is the one through whom and for whom all things are made.

But in his letter to the Colossians chapter one, verse 24, St.

Paul says these words that are very intriguing, mysterious.

He says, now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake.

And in my flesh, I complete what is lacking in Christ's affliction for the sake of his body, that is the church.

We have to ask the question, okay, what is lacking in Christ's suffering?