OCIA Session 20 Supplement - Scrutiny I - Healing from sin, relying on God’s mercy

Scrutiny I - Healing from sin, relying on God’s mercy

The Scrutinies are some of the most powerful moments in the OCIA journey. They are not tests or exams, as the name might suggest, but prayers of healing, deliverance, and strength. The Church knows that to follow Christ, we must be set free from the power of sin and anything that holds us back from God. That is what the Scrutinies are about - uncovering what is weak or sinful in our hearts, bringing it into the light of Christ, and asking Him to heal us. They are moments of purification, preparing us to enter into the fullness of life in Christ.

The first Scrutiny focuses on healing and mercy. It reminds us that sin is not just breaking rules - it is a wound in our relationship with God. Sin distorts our vision, weakens our will, and leaves us spiritually sick. But the good news is that Jesus is the Divine Physician. He does not condemn us in our weakness but comes to heal us. In Mark 2:17 He says, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” That means He came for you and for me.

The readings chosen for the first Scrutiny highlight this healing power. In John 4 we hear the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. She carried shame, brokenness, and sin, yet Jesus met her there. He did not avoid her or condemn her. Instead, He offered her living water - Himself. “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). This is the promise of healing and new life. Just as He met her at the well, He meets us in our places of shame and pain, offering mercy and transformation.

Healing requires honesty. The word “scrutiny” itself means to look closely. These rites invite us to look deeply into our hearts, to admit what needs forgiveness, and to let Christ touch those wounds. Psalm 139:23-24 is a fitting prayer: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” The Church prays with and for you during the Scrutinies, asking God to protect you from evil, strengthen you against temptation, and heal you from sin.

Here’s a humor break: some people hear the word “Scrutiny” and panic, thinking it means the priest is going to quiz them on how many Commandments they can name or how well they know their Bible. In reality, the Scrutinies are not about embarrassing you - they are about freeing you. They are moments when the Church surrounds you with prayer and asks God to pour out His grace.

The beauty of the first Scrutiny is that it is not about focusing on how bad sin is, but on how great God’s mercy is. Romans 5:20 says, “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” No sin is greater than God’s mercy. The cross proves that. When we bring our sins to Christ, He does not turn us away - He heals us, forgives us, and restores us.

Take a moment to reflect: what are the areas of your life where you feel most in need of God’s mercy? Where do you thirst for living water? Where do you need healing? It may be a past mistake, a hidden struggle, or a habit that feels too strong to overcome. Bring it honestly to Christ.

Here’s your practical challenge this week: pray each day with Psalm 51, the great prayer of repentance: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Let it become your personal prayer. If possible, make time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation this week. Let Christ’s mercy wash over you, freeing you from guilt and renewing your spirit.

In closing, remember this: the first Scrutiny is not about judgment but about freedom. It is about facing our sins honestly and letting Christ’s healing power touch them. Like the Samaritan woman, we are all thirsty for grace, and Jesus meets us at the well with living water. Next time, we will move to the second Scrutiny, which focuses on freedom from sin and learning to live fully in God’s grace. Until then, trust in His mercy, lean on His healing, and remember that Jesus came not to condemn you but to save you.