Dear Parishioners,
It seems that when the New Year arrives people tend to come
up with various resolutions. Perhaps some
(like me) will look at the lingering spare tire around the waist and say that they are
going to exercise more. Fat chance that this noble resolution will usually last for too long! Others may
want to spend more time with family and
friends. This may last for a while
and then, typically, the hectic pace of life takes over and out of sight, out of mind. Still others seek to break a bad habit. They
attempt to quit smoking or drinking, spend less time on the internet or
watching TV, etc. This may be okay until
those moments when we’re bored, lonely, frustrated, stressed-out or tired and
we decide to light up, take a drink to relax, surf the internet or channel surf with the TV remote. What was it that they say about the road to hell being paved with good intentions?
I think that we as humans frequently desire a fresh
start. We typically regret our
transgressions and indiscretions—our sinful, selfish behaviors—and want to move
on and start anew. Some denominations of
Christians speak about being born again,
referring to Jesus and His conversation with Nicodemus (John 3: 1-21). How is it that we are able to begin again? Will a simple act of the will enable us to change?
Jesus gave us the means by which we can become a new creation (2 Cor. 5: 17). By our baptism into Christ
this relationship began. We were adopted
by God as His children. Original sin (and any actual sin if we had reached the age of reason) was forgiven. We were filled with God’s Holy Spirit and Sanctifying
Grace (God’s life) was now in us. We
were made members of the Body of Christ—the
Church.
But since that time of our baptism we sinned. Our relationship with God and others was
damaged, perhaps seriously. What do we
do now? Undoubtedly Jesus had a plan for
this as well. He told his apostles after
His Resurrection, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them . . . .” (John 20: 23) The Sacrament of Penance
and Reconciliation (confession)
is the means by which our post-baptismal sins are forgiven and is what can once
again restore us to the purity of our initial baptism. We are made new by the continuing action of Christ working through His Church. And it involves more than our simple
resolution to do better. God’s grace is
present to forgive, to strengthen and to heal.
We are given supernatural, Divine
Grace in our battle with sin! We are
made anew—a new creation in Christ Jesus!
If you make use of the Sacrament
of Penance and Reconciliation regularly,
then I suppose you already understand its healing effects. However, if you are one of those people who
fears the sacrament, has convinced yourself that you can go directly to God, has had a bad experience in the past and never
went back, is carrying a burden around that just doesn’t seem to go away no
matter what I do or is simply seeking a way to begin again, why not give confession
a try? What is needed is a contrite heart
and sorrow for any sins committed, a determination to try to avoid sin in the
future, and faith in Jesus Christ that He can forgive my sins through the
instrument of the priest.
Regular confession will do more for the body, mind and soul
than any other soon-to-be-broken
resolution. Its supernatural healing
effects are far beyond what we can possibly do alone. As one who has sought out and frequented this
sacrament for most of my life, I can attest to its divine healing power. I realize that I am far from perfect and that
in my struggle with sin I have a divinely instituted means of experiencing
God’s ongoing forgiveness, mercy and healing in my life.
Fr. Ed Namiotka
Pastor
No comments:
Post a Comment