To say “sorry” is not as easy and neither is it that simple.
Of course, we must be humble enough to say sorry and to apologize to the person that we have offended.
But to apologize with just one word of “sorry” may not seem to be adequate.
There must also be sincerity and honesty, and maybe a few more other words may be needed.
But we certainly won’t expect the person to whom we are apologizing to tell us what to say.
We would have to think what to say in order to express our sincerity and hope that the person will accept our apology.
But in the 1st reading, it was the Lord who was telling His people what to say if they really want to repent and turn back to the Lord God.
The Lord says this: Provide yourselves with words and come back to the Lord. Say to him, “Take all iniquity away so that we may have happiness again and offer you our words of praise.
God was making it so simple and easy for His people to turn back to Him and He even tells them what to say to express their repentance.
When we come for Mass, we don’t have to think of what words to say or how to compose our prayers.
The Holy Spirit, through the Church, has done all that for us.
We only need to come before the Lord with a humble and contrite heart, and listen to the prayers that are offered to the Lord.
And like what the 1st reading tells us:
Let the wise man understand these words.
Let the intelligent man grasp their meanings.
For the ways of the Lord are straight,
and virtuous men walk in them,
but sinners stumble.