Healing And Forgiveness

[Theologian in Training]

Please pray for me, I have a talk I have to give next Wednesday on the above topic. I figure I will focus more on the side of confession and reconciliation. To be honest, I really had no direction until I realized I had to do the message for the bulletin this weekend, so I put my thoughts down and think I now have a good place to start for my talk.

If you are interested, my little reflection is below

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I know I normally use this part of the bulletin to answer a few questions, but this weekend I wanted to do something a little different. I wanted to offer a little personal reflection, in a few parts, on a great, holy and valuable sacrament that seems to be neglected all too often. Of course, unfortunately, in this day and age, that could be any of the sacraments, but the one that seems to have suffered the most is the sacrament of confession, also known as the sacrament of reconciliation or penance. And, I offer this reflection as one who has been blessed to be on “both sides of the grille,” as it were, as confessor and confessee, as a sinner and one who has, for whatever reason, been chosen to become an instrument of reconciliation, of forgiveness, of mercy.

I will never forget, as a newly ordained, the first confession I ever heard, not because of the content or what was said, because, honestly, I don’t remember, but because it was the first time I truly felt like a priest. I know I was nervous, scared that I would not properly remember the words of absolution, and I probably even fumbled over what I was going to say, but it didn’t matter, because, at that moment, I realized I had the ability to pour the mercy of God upon this person, and they would receive it. As I got more comfortable hearing confessions, I realized the true power that God had given me, but rather than feeling “all-powerful” because of it, I was humbled by it, because people of all ages, of all walks of life would come into that confessional and seek forgiveness, and they would seek it from me, some ordinary guy whom God asked to become a priest, a sinner himself, and they would confide in me some of the worst that people are capable of, and I had to offer some advice, some consolation, and, if God was not in charge, I don’t even know what I would have said. In fact, this is why this sacrament makes a priest feel like a priest, because, in essence, he is helpless, and, in every sense of the word, he becomes an instrument, he has to let God work through him as he, in so many words, gets out of the way.

This is why it lends itself to one of the most intimate experiences of God, because not only is He speaking to us, consoling us, He is reaching out for us, running towards us as the father did to the prodigal son, because He has been waiting for us. This is why sometimes the greatest conversions can happen at that moment, because the love of God is so real, so palpable that we feel it within every inch and every part of our being. This is why we cry, because it is so overwhelming, so strong and we missed that and, yet, didn’t realize how much we truly missed His love until it returned, but it is not just because we missed it, we also come to clearly see what separated us from that love in the first place, and like a child saddened because he hurt his father, we come to see the pain and the hurt that we caused by our sins.

For, although Christ has already redeemed us of those sins, we see a bruise, a gash, a pain He suffered we had never noticed before, because we caused it and it becomes more noticeable to us now.

But those tears are not just an expression of sorrow, not just a recognition of our offenses, they are also a shower for our soul, cleansing us and removing their stains, literally washing away what we have done and confessed to have done.

And, all of this happens, in what can seem like a minute, because, in the blink of an eye, we are changed, made a new creation in Christ.

Next time how we are healed by the sacrament.

[Archaeology cat]

That was beautiful, Father! I know when I went to Reconcilation last week, it was the first time in about 6 months; I just hadn't been able to go in the last part of my pregnancy and then with having Kieran. I didn't realise how much I'd missed that grace, that consolation, until the moment of absolution. What you've written captured that exactly.

[Deb]

Thank you for sharing that with us Father. It truly is beautiful.

For me, being back in the church after 35 years, my general confession was the scariest thing I had to do. It was face to face. I thought I was going to throw up on the way into the office and was fighting tears the whole time. Some of the things from my youth that I had to confess were offensive even to me!

It was the most incredible experience of my life. I knew that Christ was sitting in the chair across from me. For the first time in a very long time, I knew that God loved me and would never abandon me. When Fr. granted me absolution, I was filled with so much grace I could barely move.

It is wonderful to hear how it feels to a Priest. Would you mind if I shared this with a friend who needs to do a major confession before she gets confirmed and is afraid to go to our Priest? I keep telling her she isn't confessing to him, she is confessing to our Lord Jesus. I think it would help her.

Edited February 27, 2008 by Deb

[Theologian in Training]

Well, ok then, you two have confirmed that I will be using this part for my talk. Thank you.

And, Deb, feel free to share it with your friend, or do with it what you will.

God Bless

Fr. Brian

[jeffpugh]

Whoa, that's great Fr. Good to hear your perspective on this.

[MissyP89]

Father, as someone who has admitted to my own priest that Confession terrifies me, you eased my spirit. It's always so good to remember that priests are every bit as human and sinful as we are.

Thanks for that.

[Deb]

Father,

I have read what you wrote about ten times now and I find it even more beautiful every time. I hope you realize how valuable you are to the entire family of the Church and I am so grateful that you are sharing with us. Please continue to do so.

If I moved to New Jersey, would you be my spiritual director?

Thanks again!

Edited February 28, 2008 by Deb

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='Deb' post='1470250' date='Feb 27 2008, 09:20 PM']If I moved to New Jersey, would you be my spiritual director?

Thanks again![/quote]

I say this in all humility, but I get that a lot.

And thank you and thank everyone for your kind words. All of you have confirmed to me that I am definitely going to use this for my talk.

[CatherineM]

When I went to confession to confess that I hadn't been able to forgive the person who seriously injured me, my confessor told me that if it would help, he'd forgive the man for me. He said that maybe the burden of trying to forgive was just too heavy for me right now, and I should focus on healing my body first. He was right. Once I was able to walk again, it was a lot easier. I just sort of realized one day that I had forgiven him. Forgiveness can be so liberating.

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1470471' date='Feb 28 2008, 02:09 AM']When I went to confession to confess that I hadn't been able to forgive the person who seriously injured me, my confessor told me that if it would help, he'd forgive the man for me. He said that maybe the burden of trying to forgive was just too heavy for me right now, and I should focus on healing my body first. He was right. Once I was able to walk again, it was a lot easier. I just sort of realized one day that I had forgiven him. Forgiveness can be so liberating.[/quote]

Can I use that for my talk? I like it.

[CatherineM]

Sure, I'm told it's okay for me to talk about what I say in confession, my confessor is the one who has to stay quiet. He was a very wise man who passed a year ago Thanksgiving. He had sat with me all night in the hospital when I got hurt, and told me later that he had found it almost as hard to forgive my attacker as I had.

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1470631' date='Feb 28 2008, 01:39 PM']Sure, I'm told it's okay for me to talk about what I say in confession, my confessor is the one who has to stay quiet. He was a very wise man who passed a year ago Thanksgiving. He had sat with me all night in the hospital when I got hurt, and told me later that he had found it almost as hard to forgive my attacker as I had.[/quote]

Very holy priest. And, yes, you can say as little or as much about your confession, we can say nothing.

[jeffpugh]

Back to the top

Thank you for sharing, Catherine.

[Theologian in Training]

Oh wow, I lost my talk. Oh Well, just as well, the Spirit was behind it, and the fruits are still there. If anyone is interested, I can re-post, otherwise, those who got to read it were those who needed to read it, and, perhaps, got some benefit from it.

[Deb]

Please repost. I would like to share it with some others. It was so good.