One of the hardest things in the world is to confess wrongdoings. We always give a much more kindly treatment to our own moral failures than we do to those of others. We advance our excuses, so plausible to ourselves. We stand on our dignity, our pride chocking back the generous word of penitence which would have made possible new beginnings.
Self-righteousness is a characteristic of the life of today. No nation seems capable of confessing even a share in the guilt for the disasters of these years.
Repentance makes possible forgiveness, and forgiveness sets new forces flowing through human personality. It results in peace of heart, the only peace there is in the last analysis. Forgiveness breaks the tyranny of the past, setting the mind and heart free for God’s further action.