"They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, 'Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!'" - Mk 6:50
SITUATION EXPLAINED
What are you scared of? Dying? Losing a loved one? Public speaking? The dark? Not getting into the college you want? Getting fired? Sharks? Snakes? Taxes? Tap water? How about Confession? I don't know about you, but there were times I've been in line for confession and wished that I were getting fired, doing taxes or swimming with sharks, instead.
SOLUTION OFFERED
Maybe you've never been scared of confession (consider yourself lucky) because...whoa, it REALLY used to scare me. I thought about what used to make me so uncomfortable about confession ....here's MY top ten (see how many you can relate to):
1. It's never easy to admit that I'm wrong.
2. It's never easy to admit to someone else that I'm wrong
3. Standing in line made me even more nervous...heart pounding, palms sweating.
4. The confessional "box" scared me.
5. I hoped that the priest wouldn't recognize my voice.
6. I would talk REALLY softly to be sure the people waiting outside couldn't hear me.
7. If the priest did recognize my voice, I hoped that he wouldn't remember my sins.
8. I was worried the priest would tell someone, maybe even my parents.
9. I would try to sandwich the "big sins" in the middle of the small ones.
10. I was scared I'd forget the "Act of Contrition," and hoped that the penance was easy.
What I want to say is that it's OKAY if you get nervous about confession.....it's just not necessary. Ask yourself this question, why would Jesus give us the gift of confession if He wanted to make us miserable? Why would Jesus WANT us to be afraid?
The answer? He doesn't. God isn't trying to scare us....Jesus doesn't want us to dread confession more than a trip to the dentist. The problem isn't with the GIFT that Jesus gives us in reconciliation, the problem is with us, and how we react to and misunderstand the gift. He tells us fourteen times in the gospels, "Do not be afraid." (see bottom for list)
Jesus is NOT a liar.....confession is a gift that He gave to us. Now, obviously, I don't expect you to read this and "all of the sudden" stop being afraid of confession. I can offer you one thought from personal experience, though. If you ever say to yourself, "When I pray, I just don't hear anything," or if you ever just feel like when you pray, your prayers are hitting the ceiling....that's when I know that it's been too long since I went to confession. Sin acts as a barrier between us and God, it muffles God's voice and makes it more difficult for us to hear Him. Confession destroys that barrier of sin, and allows God's voice to be heard more clearly again.
Try to get to Confession this week, especially if you haven't been in a while.....TRUST me...you'll be glad that you did. Take the initiative, make the time, and do it. Do it for yourself. ACCEPT the gift of His forgiveness.
SALVATION GIVEN
"They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, 'Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!'" - Mk 6:50
Don't wait another day......everything else can wait.....it's time for some spiritual house cleaning.
DO NOT BE AFRAID!" - MT 10:26, MT 10:28, MT 10:31, MT 14:27, MT 17:7, MT 28:10, MK 5:36, MK 6:50, LK 5:10, LK 8:50, LK 12:4, LK 12:7, LK 12:32, JN 6:20
Adapted from LIFE TEEN's "Spread the Word" by Mark Hart
Heard about this one yet?
The new priest is nervous about hearing confessions, so he asks an older priest to sit in on his sessions. The new priest hears several confessions, then the old priest asks him to step out of the confessional for a few suggestions.
The old priest suggests, "Cross your arms over your chest and rub your chin with one hand." The new priest tries this.
The old priest suggests, "Try saying things like, 'I see, yes, go on, and I understand, how did you feel about that?" The new priest says those things, trying them out.
The old priest says, "Now, don't you think that's a little better than slapping your knee and saying, 'No way! What happened next?'"
Undo
- Rush of Fools
I've been here before, now here I am again
Standing at the door, praying You'll let me back in
To label me a prodigal would be
Only scratching the surface of who I've been known to be
[Chorus]
Turn me around pick me up
Undo what I've become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, need Your help
I can't do this myself
You�re the only one who can undo
What I've become
I focused on the score, but I could never win
Trying to ignore, a life of hiding my sin
To label me a hypocrite would be
Only scratching the surface of who I've been known to be
[Chorus]
Turn me around pick me up
Undo what I've become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, need Your help
I can't do this myself
You�re the only one who can undo
What I've become
Make every step lead me back to
The sovereign way that You
[Chorus]
Turn me around pick me up
Undo what I've become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, need Your help
I can't do this myself
You�re the only one who can undo
What I've become
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