“You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,
for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth” (Eph 5:8-9).
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Reconciliation is a theme throughout the Season of Lent, and one we don’t want to take for granted. I encourage everyone to partake of the sacrament of reconciliation during this season of lent and to not be afraid. I was reflecting upon some of Pope Francis’ addresses to the apostolic penitentiary as he was speaking about sacrament of reconciliation. People will often use the analogy of confession being like getting your clothes washed or going to the dry cleaners to get a stain removed. However, the sacrament is much more. Pope Francis refers to three expressions to help explain this sacrament: 1) to abandon oneself to Love, 2) to let oneself be transformed by Love, and 3) to correspond to Love. You can see that love is an essential part of the sacrament. “If it [sacrament] is functional, it is not how Jesus wants it to be” (Pope Francis Address, 12 March 2021). Let’s look at what Pope Francis is saying in regard to these expressions.
To abandon oneself to Love. This is an act of faith to God. Faith is not simply some series of concepts or affirmations to check off, but is to be understood in a relationship. God calls you and you respond. Faith is that encounter with God and abandoning yourself in the arms of this Love. People don’t often like the idea of having to surrender, because then they are not in control. To be at peace with God requires a surrendering to God, an abandonment to Love. Otherwise people will abandon themselves to other things, whether it be pride, envy, wrath, sloth, avarice, gluttony or lust. That can take forms in many different ways of life, whether it means to stop going to Church, suffering with an addiction, worldly mentality, or many other ways the devil entices. So, when going to confession, approach with faith. Abandon yourself to Love.
To let oneself be transformed by Love. We know that mere adherence to the laws do not save us, and Matthew 23 is a good reminder of this. Law does not change a person, and you can see that with people continuing to break the law many times over. Some people will even say that laws are meant to be broken. There are laws that are just and there are unjust laws. How does an individual change? Love, which is God himself, is capable of renewing all things. The penitent who encounters this Love in the sacramental exchange allows himself to be transformed by Love, by Grace. To turn the heart of stone into a heart of flesh, this is the grace of God at work. So, when going to confession, allow your heart to be transformed.
To correspond to Love. Following the previous two steps have as a consequence, the correspondence of love. To receive and accept the love of God, then becomes tangible in the life of the penitent in the works of mercy that follow. To accept the welcome of Love, then means you will be welcoming your neighbor. One who surrendered himself to Love cannot but then give that same Love to another. Recognizing and accepting the forgiveness by God then leads to the forgiveness of their neighbor.
I appreciate these words of Pope Francis as a recognition and reminder of the forgiveness we have received. Each and every one of us is a forgiven sinner. You are a forgiven sinner, placed at the service of others, so that they too may encounter that Love which has changed your life.
Please note on your calendars that on Wednesday, March 22nd at 6:00pm at St. Mary Cathedral, we will be having a penance service with multiple priests available where you can receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
As we continue towards our Easter celebration, may we take full advantage of this beautiful sacrament which draws us closer to the Lord and have an encounter with divine forgiveness.
In Christ,
Fr. Tony Rowland