Corpus Christi Blog

Confession, Year of Mercy

12-05-2015HomiliesFr. Chad King

Such inspiring and uplifting readings we are given today, let us jump right into what they mean to our lives.  Our 1st reading is a prophecy from Baruch to the people of God in Jerusalem; this same prophecy is echoed by Isaiah as well.  It begins, “Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever”. For our purposes today, whenever we read ‘Jerusalem’- we can insert ‘Church’- for the Church is the New Jerusalem.    So we can read it this way, ‘Church, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever’.  Our 1st reading goes on to say, “Up, Jerusalem (or for us- Up, Church) stand upon the heights.  For God has commanded every mountain be made low and every depth be filled and made level, for God is leading Israel in joy, (leading the Church) in joy by the light of his glory with mercy and justice”. 

What this reading is telling us is that we don’t need to be in a constant state of mourning and grief, we don’t have to wallow in our misery, hoping someone would recognize our struggles and have pity on us.  We don’t have to continue carrying our burdens in hopelessness, but we can put on the splendor of God’s glory.  God’s glory can shine upon us, for God wants to lead us into joy and peace.  Wouldn’t that be nice if we really believed that, do you want that joy and peace in your life?

Our Gospel today reminds us about John the Baptist who went throughout the region of the Jordan River, which is throughout Jerusalem and he cried out for all to prepare the way of the Lord and proclaimed repentance for the forgiveness of sins”.  Our Gospel, recalling the prophecies of Baruch and Isaiah, goes on to say that, “God will make every valley filled and every mountain will be made low.  The winding roads will be made straight and the rough roads smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God”.  Wouldn’t you like to make every road of your life straight and smooth?  Do you want to see the salvation of God? 

Good, Pope Francis desires for you to have peace and joy, and your path to God be straight.  And, in his wisdom, he is emphasizing tools of grace for us.  Beginning this Tuesday, which as a reminder is a Holy Day of Obligation, until mid-November, Pope Francis has designated this to be a Year of Mercy.  We know God wants to shower His Church with mercy and joy, but we need to prepare and open ourselves to receive.  Unfortunately, most Catholics do not go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly, it’s been many months or years since they’ve gone.  Therefore many of our brothers and sisters remain in the darkness, sorrow, and misery of their lives and just try to persevere through the difficulties on their own.  They don’t recognize that often times their sadness and burdens is a consequence of their sin, either because they don’t recognize how sin has affected them or because they have blurred what a serious mortal sin is.  There are good Examinations of Conscience pamphlets in the back by the confessionals to help you become more aware of what the more serious sins are.  The serious sins are titled mortal sin for a reason, because they mortally kill the divine life in a person.  The channel of grace from God to the person is ruptured, and the soul is deprived of its divine nourishment.  And the only remedy God has given to heal this rupture is the Sacrament of Confession.  The Church teaches that every Catholic must go to Confession at least once a year, and/or whenever one is aware of mortal sin on their soul.  So if it has been a while for you since you’ve been to Confession, make it a priority to go soon.

However, the Church strongly encourages us to go to confession regularly, even strive for once a month or more.  It’s been reported that John Paul II went every week, and so is there really a wonder why he is a Saint?  Just as it is necessary to change the oil in your car regularly in order to keep it running smoothly and prevent breakdowns, so Confession helps keep our lives run smoothly and actually helps to prevent sin to occur in our lives.  If we go regularly, then we will continually be thinking about the areas in which we are weak, and we’ll be continually working to grow spiritually; which is very different from forgetting our sins because it has been a long time in between and remaining in the spiritual rut we don’t know how we got in.  In every confession, real Grace is given and applied directly to the sinful areas we confessed, no matter how big or small they might be.  The Grace strengthens us in the midst of temptations to not give into them, and we are given grace to overcome the smaller venial sins that we repeatedly do.  Dare I say that all of us have habitual sins, some are big habitual mortal sins but others might be smaller sins that we might do without even thinking about it.  When we say an Act of Contrition we resolve to not sin again, and that we will avoid whatever leads us into sin; my brothers and sisters, if we truly mean that then we need to get serious about purifying ourselves from our habitual sins.  This year of Mercy is a great opportunity to do just that.  And so I encourage you, as I have done, and will repeatedly do to ask God to show you any areas of weakness and sin in your life that He wants to forgive and heal you of this year.  Let’s take a moment now, and with God’s inspiration choose one sin you really want to overcome this year.  Commit yourself, with the Grace and Mercy of God, to rid yourself of a certain attraction or attachment to a particular sin this year.  Plan on coming to Confession once a month.  If you aren’t already examining your day every night, start to recall the times in which you recognized God’s presence and the areas in which you failed to call upon him.  And in your prayer, which I hope is daily, surrender the human tendency, the attraction, and habit of that particular sin, and ask God to purify you of it.

Fr Rey and I are both here almost every Tuesday at 5 and Saturday at 2:30 for Confession, and in addition to those regular times, we will also add Thursdays at 7pm as well.  We will make that commitment to you as it is so important for our souls.  Both Father Rey and I are available by appointment in order to help make it as convenient as possible for you.  Keep in mind that is throughout the year, but now in the season of advent, there will be confessions heard during the Parish Mission on the 14th, which is in a week from now, at 7pm, as well as after the weekly Christmas Novena Masses.  Therefore, from December 14th up until Christmas eve, every weeknight at 7pm Confessions will be heard.  And so I implore you, avail yourselves to the Grace and Mercy of God, and plan on making this Year of Mercy a year of true and continual encounter with the Love of God by coming once a month at least.   And let’s also ask God for a deeper awareness of sin and may grow to detest our sin, no matter how big or small. 

As we prepare to begin this Year of Mercy, I leave you with the inspiration from St. Paul in our 2nd reading: “Brothers and sisters, I pray always with joy in my prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel.  I am confident of this, that the one who began the good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.  And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ Jesus”.

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