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Lent and the Sacrament of Confession
Homily St. Joseph Parish, Detroit
Now that we are in the season of Lent, I wish to take advantage of the day to exhort all of us to go to confession. Jesus Christ was victorious over sin in the desert, he can now be victorious over sin in your life through sacramental reconciliation. St. John Fisher taught that by confession, the power of Jesus Christ spiritually resurrected the soul dead because of sin. “It may be the case,” he says, “that a sinful wretch comes to a priest, shows all his sins, and sheds out from his breast the corrupt blood of sin, as if from the cut throat of a beast or from a filthy wound lanced with a lancet. Afterwards, the sacrament of penance is ministered to him by his spiritual father, and by the virtue of Christ’s precious blood, he is made clean from sin and then truly justified. He came to his spiritual father as a sinful person, but by the virtue of this sacrament of penance he goes away from him righteous, not by his own righteousness, but by the righteousness of Christ Jesus, who righteously redeemed us with his precious blood.[1]” Let us therefore wisely apply to ourselves the blood of Christ. Yet some hold out, and they do not go to confession. Perhaps it’s as simple as they lost the habit, and they’re ashamed to tell the priest how long it has been; this is a very easy problem to solve, just tell the priest, and he will give you reconciliation with the Trinity. Others did something very embarrassing, and so fear the confessional, which they have no reason to fear. They say, “Father, I can’t believe what I have done.” And with no malice intended, I simply say, “I can believe it. You are weak and a son of Adam and Eve. It is more amazing that you do the much good which you do! What mercy God has shown you, that there is still any good in you.” Come and receive forgiveness and do penance, don’t renounce your salvation because you were too embarrassed. Others think they never sin. Perhaps they think that only when they do an act with hatred towards God is that a sin. Well, we have the ten commandments as our guide. If we sin directly against them, we did a mortal sin, and should not receive communion until we confess. If we sin indirectly against them, it is only venial. Some like to say they talk to God directly and tell him they are sorry. This is not sufficient. You cannot dictate to God the conditions of your sins being forgiven, rather he is God and you are the creature and he dictates to you. And why does sinful man think he has such a direct phone line to God. God reaches us through mediation, and not directly. The mediator he gave us, paradoxically, is his own eternal Son, Jesus Christ, and his body is the Catholic Church. And so we need to gain reconciliation with God by the mediation of the Mystical Body of Christ. It is to Peter and the apostles to whom God gave the keys to loose and bind, and not to each one to loose and bind himself at leisure. We therefore must go to the priests who have the power of loosing and binding, which is the power of Christ, and the power of the Church, and there will we find absolution. The great Martyr John Fisher again says, “By itself, contrition with a full purpose of confession takes away the guilt of sin. And so, whoever is contrite, needs to be confessed if he can, and falls not again into [mortal] sin shall never be damned.”[2] Yet, he explains, the duty for sin would need be paid after death in Purgatory. Confession is far less painful, so let us wisely take advantage of this marvelous means God has given us to have our sins taken away! For any soul who dies in a state of unrepentant mortal sin cannot enter heaven, ever. Such a soul would hate the presence of God, which is infinitely pure and holy. And yet it is still wise for those who do not have mortal sin on their conscience to confess, and I recommend at least monthly. Venial sins still do offend God, and are you happy with offending God? Confession breaks habits of sin, venial or mortal. Confession restores union with God. Confession gives back the life of grace. Confession prevents future mortal sin. Confession helps you know your soul better. Confession makes you grow in humility. Confession gives you the grace of God, which is God’s life, and all the blessings that come with God living in your soul. And do you want to love more, love God more, love your neighbor more, love your spouse and children more? Confession makes the soul grow in supernatural love or charity. So take advantage during Lent to get to confession. Examine your soul, and repent, rejoicing in the forgiveness which God does not owe you, but which he graciously and reliably offers you. If you have questions, ask the priests in the confessional. And “once recovered, strengthen your brothers.”[3] |