This Week
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Father Michael's Thought for the Week- Third Sunday of Easter
The theme running through our 3 readings this weekend is repentance and forgiveness of sins. So it is appropriate to think about the Sacrament of Confession or Reconciliation.
This sacrament is an amazing, wonderful gift from Jesus to his Church. But there are lots of people who do not feel like it’s a gift. Perhaps you are one of those people and may identify with some of the reasons people feel that way. Some feel scared or nervous, maybe because they were only taught about Confession as young children and felt like they were in trouble or an experience made them feel bad about themselves. Maybe the idea of going in with a shopping list of your sins does not appeal! Some people feel awkward about saying some things in front of their priest. And some feel that it’s enough to simply confess our sins in our hearts to God and then we are forgiven (which of course is not wrong).
We have a clue why we need this sacrament in the Gospel. While the disciples are still struggling to comprehend that Jesus is risen from the dead, he offers them tangible, physical signs to help them. He’s not a ghost because he has flesh and wounds. And then that weird but wonderful fact is recorded that he eats grilled fish in front of them. Jesus knows that we need tangible, real signs so that we know his grace is working in our lives. This is what the sacraments are. And that’s why he has given us this gift where we say out loud with the priest as witness where we need to be forgiven in our lives. Saying things out loud is a very healthy thing to do. Instead of bottling things up, we rather release and unburden ourselves of those things, and in a sense those things become diminished. And this is done in the safe environment of the sacrament.
But most importantly this is the sacrament of love. A person has humbly turned back to God, is humble enough to overcome the embarrassment of saying their sins out loud and is then forgiven. All we say when we go to Confession is, ‘I’m not perfect, and these are the areas in my life I need to grow, and only you, God can help me.’ And then comes the most amazing thing. The moment the words of absolution are said by the priest, but really by Jesus, and that person is definitely forgiven. God says to them, ‘I love you no matter what.’ And by going to the sacrament, we have the guarantee that all this has happened and can enjoy a wonderful sense of peace of mind.
Finally, don’t worry about it being awkward with the priest. He is not bothered what you have done. He simply wants to see another human person reconciled to God and experiencing his profound love. For me, it’s one of the most privileged times of my ministry. To see so intimately how God’s love and grace is working in someone’s life.
What the children often say at First Confessions sums it all up very well. It feels so good to say sorry and to hear that I am definitely forgiven. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone did this?!
The theme running through our 3 readings this weekend is repentance and forgiveness of sins. So it is appropriate to think about the Sacrament of Confession or Reconciliation.
This sacrament is an amazing, wonderful gift from Jesus to his Church. But there are lots of people who do not feel like it’s a gift. Perhaps you are one of those people and may identify with some of the reasons people feel that way. Some feel scared or nervous, maybe because they were only taught about Confession as young children and felt like they were in trouble or an experience made them feel bad about themselves. Maybe the idea of going in with a shopping list of your sins does not appeal! Some people feel awkward about saying some things in front of their priest. And some feel that it’s enough to simply confess our sins in our hearts to God and then we are forgiven (which of course is not wrong).
We have a clue why we need this sacrament in the Gospel. While the disciples are still struggling to comprehend that Jesus is risen from the dead, he offers them tangible, physical signs to help them. He’s not a ghost because he has flesh and wounds. And then that weird but wonderful fact is recorded that he eats grilled fish in front of them. Jesus knows that we need tangible, real signs so that we know his grace is working in our lives. This is what the sacraments are. And that’s why he has given us this gift where we say out loud with the priest as witness where we need to be forgiven in our lives. Saying things out loud is a very healthy thing to do. Instead of bottling things up, we rather release and unburden ourselves of those things, and in a sense those things become diminished. And this is done in the safe environment of the sacrament.
But most importantly this is the sacrament of love. A person has humbly turned back to God, is humble enough to overcome the embarrassment of saying their sins out loud and is then forgiven. All we say when we go to Confession is, ‘I’m not perfect, and these are the areas in my life I need to grow, and only you, God can help me.’ And then comes the most amazing thing. The moment the words of absolution are said by the priest, but really by Jesus, and that person is definitely forgiven. God says to them, ‘I love you no matter what.’ And by going to the sacrament, we have the guarantee that all this has happened and can enjoy a wonderful sense of peace of mind.
Finally, don’t worry about it being awkward with the priest. He is not bothered what you have done. He simply wants to see another human person reconciled to God and experiencing his profound love. For me, it’s one of the most privileged times of my ministry. To see so intimately how God’s love and grace is working in someone’s life.
What the children often say at First Confessions sums it all up very well. It feels so good to say sorry and to hear that I am definitely forgiven. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone did this?!
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This week's newsletter and Mass Sheets (click on the small images at the side to view the next page)
Join Father John and Father Michael as they say the Stations of the Cross in our Parish garden.
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The Order of the Mass
In a new series of videos, Father Michael explains more about the Order of the Mass, covering the Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist and Concluding Rites.
In a new series of videos, Father Michael explains more about the Order of the Mass, covering the Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist and Concluding Rites.
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To watch other videos about St Catherine's please see our Parish YouTube channel