Rodrigo's Reconcile Reconciliation example essay topic

Rodrigo's Reconcile Reconciliation means to bring back together. In Reconciliation the way we are brought back together with the community is by asking forgiveness. Forgiveness means to pardon or spare. In Greek it means to send forth, put away, and yield up. The other meaning is to give up the desire to punish or to cancel a debt. Jesus gave us the sacrament of Reconciliation.

We were granted this sacrament so whenever we turn away from God we have the choice of asking forgiveness so we can be reunited with Him. The four steps in the sacrament of Reconciliation are confession, contrition, penance, and absolution. The first step is confession which allows people to reunite with God by admitting their sins. Before you can heal mentally and spiritually you have to admit your sins. Rodrigo, who was a former slave trader and mercenary, committed a grave sin.

He killed his younger brother who he raised as a kid when his parents died. Rodrigo didn't mean to kill his brother, but it happened during a time of rage against his brother for stealing his girlfriend. Rodrigo knew and accepted the fact that he killed his brother, but he couldn't let it go. He was really hard on himself. After realizing you have sinned against someone, the next step is asking forgiveness from God. Rodrigo Mendoza after killing his brother could not ask forgiveness from God.

It was because he couldn't forgive himself. He needed someone to help him and be with him. At this time along came a man, Father Gabriel, who would help him. They made the trip of reconciliation together. After all of this, Rodrigo's next step was to do his penance.

The only thing was that Rodrigo issued his own penance which was harder than was needed. He fasted for a long period of time. After he fasted he dragged around his armor and sword symbolizing his faults in his former job. He climbed the waterfall with his luggage and also climbed a mountain.

He realized that he had done many wrongs in his life by being a slave trader and a mercenary. He knew that he couldn't have an easy penance. He became upset when Father Gabriel cut off his pack full of armor because he knew that Father Gabriel was not the person he was asking forgiveness from. After doing his penance the only step left was absolution. The weird thing about it was that he didn't let Father Gabriel give him the absolution. He wanted a member of the Indian tribe to absolve him.

This was the same tribe who he enslaved and killed their people. One day while climbing the mountain a young Indian boy came and cut the pack and threw it into the water. The weight was lifted off of his back after he had been forgiven. Rodrigo did want a new chance at life. The way he was granted this was through Reconciliation. His had led a life of violence.

All he really knew was fighting and capturing Indians for slavery. He was truly reconciled. He was brought back together with the community of Indians. He canceled his debt with his brother and the Indians. He was pardoned and spared by the Indians who he previously persecuted.

He gave up his desire to punish and to kill. He put away his old life and started a new one as a Jesuit priest. God was working with Rodrigo. He truly had a plan for Rodrigo.