Recently I was considering the last few episodes of Better Call Saul after watching the series years ago. If you haven’t watched the show this post may not make much sense to you, but here are my thoughts anyways.

After some reflection, it dawned on me just how Christian, if not Catholic, was the theme of the last season. Particularly the concept of confession, penance and absolution, or in the protestant terms of repentance, obedience and grace.

Take Kim Wexler. She had chosen a life of penance for the sins she had committed with Jimmy/Saul. She had left the law, which she loved, and worked in an office job she seemed to hate. After the scams she had worked with Jimmy, and helping others through the law, her life was not what she wanted. And then Jimmy/Saul/Gene/Victor called. When she told him that he needed to turn himself in, he exploded and accused her of taking the easy way out since there was no one left except him who knew about Howard being killed because of their scams. That was when Kim realized her penance could never lead to absolution until she confessed. So, she returned to Albuquerque and confessed to the authorities and Howard’s wife. Fortunately, they decided not to prosecute. Once that was done, she was able to allow herself to return to the law as a volunteer at a free legal service.

Now consider Jimmy/Saul in the final episode. When he found out that Kim had confessed, he felt compelled to seek her forgiveness. This led him to confess in court, in her presence, and taking the penance of going to maximum security for eighty-six years, and this was after he had negotiated a much shorter sentence in a minimal security prison. The scene where he and Kim share a cigarette while she was visiting him in prison was Jimmy receiving her forgiveness. Then in the final scene when Jimmy does the finger guns to Kim was him granting her absolution. Two broken souls gaining the forgiveness they need to start healing.

I know several protestants will take issue with the Roman Catholic process of confession, penance, and absolution. They see grace, and forgiveness, as coming from God without human action. I agree we can do nothing to earn God’s grace, however God does expect us to be obedient through baptism and good works. Among these good works is our confession of guilt to Him and to one another. As James said in James 5:12 “confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” Through this confession and prayer, we receive God’s forgiveness. However, confessing is not enough. We must as David did after being confronted about his sin, as King Hezikiah did, and even as evil King Ahab did, we must humble ourselves before God. Or in other words, do penance by setting things right if we can, and if we can’t then do penance through prayer and fasting. So, in a way the Roman Catholics are correct. Their mistake is seeking this through an earthly priest instead of Christ our great high priest.

#BetterCallSaul, #Confession, #Penance, #Absolution, #Forgiveness