Homily for November 4, 2012

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31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Deuteronomy 6:2-6
Hebrews 7:23-26
Mark 12:28b-34
November 4, 2012

Moses calls for the people to “keep all God’s statutes and commandments.” It is something we all desire in some way. After all, Moses says that if the people keep God’s commandments, the people will grow and prosper.

The commandments are good. Some of them are good in their right. Who can argue against commandments like, thou shall not steal, or bear false witness, or don’t kill. Clearly, it is good for all of us and for society as a whole if we keep these commandments.

All the commandments are good because they come from God. As people of faith, we desire to follow the commandments.
Knowing they are good, we should be highly motivated to follow them. It would seem that given all this, it should be easy to follow the commandments.

But it isn’t.

One of the scribes asks Jesus the question “Which is the first of all the commandments?” It’s actually a somewhat common question of Jesus’ time. For us, we think of Ten Commandments. The Jews spoke in terms of 613, of which the Ten were the most important.
Where to begin?

One isn’t likely to just start following all the Commandments all at once. We need a starting point. Jesus was human and knew this. So, he answered the scribe’s question.

Actually, Jesus goes beyond what the scribe asks for. Jesus offers Two. And the two he offers are not explicitly listed as part of the Ten Commandments.

Jesus says it is all about love, loving God and loving our neighbor. We are created to love but it is no small matter to answer the call to love.
It is not just a simple love but a call to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul. We are to put every fiber of our being into loving God.
It should seem easy to love God but it isn’t. Love means making sacrifices. Love means putting God’s Will before our own desires.
This has been a struggle from the first days of the Old Covenant. People failed to follow God’s Will. It’s called sin!
And for their sins, the people needed forgiveness. That’s why God prescribed the sacrifices of the Old Testament. Those sacrifices were offered by human priests who were themselves imperfect and needed also to make sacrifices for their own sins in addition to the sins of the people.These sacrifices were not perfect and had to be offered over and over again.

But Jesus comes to offer a new and perfect sacrifice. Jesus is the only one who is holy, innocent, and undefiled. He makes one sacrifice once and for all.   The sacrifice that Jesus offers is the giving of his own life on the Cross. Jesus is perfect and so his sacrifice is perfect but we need to always remember not just the action of his sacrifice but the reason for his sacrifice – because he loved us.

It is love that God wants from us. It is love that pleases God more than any earthly sacrifice.

Every time we celebrate Mass we are offering a sacrifice but it is not a new sacrifice. Each time the priests in the Old Testament offer a sacrifice for forgiveness it was a new but imperfect sacrifice.

The sacrifice we celebrate at Mass is not new. Nor is it just a remembering of Jesus’ death.  It is the same sacrifice that Jesus made on the Cross for us. God is bigger than anything we can imagine. God transcends time. Somehow in his grace, God makes present for us the same sacrifice, offered once and for all at Calvary.

As we celebrate the sacrifice of the Mass, we call to mind that Jesus who said over the bread, This is my body gave up his body for us. We call to mind how Jesus who said “This is the cup of my blood” shed his blood for us. His giving of his blood is the very giving of his life for us. Then, we receive the Body and Blood as a sign of our desire to know God and to be strengthened by all that he offers us.
It is no small sacrifice that we celebrate today.

 

Homily for October 28, 2012

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30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Jeremiah 31:7-9
Hebrews 5:1-6
Mark 10:46-52
October 28, 2012

Bartimaeus was a blind man and a beggar.  Physically, as a blind man, Bartimaeus would not have been able to work in the common jobs of the time.  Since he could not work, he was forced to become a beggar.  For this alone, he would have been considered an outcast by many.

To add to that, in the Jewish understanding of the time, his blindness would have been seen as punishment for sin.  They may not have any idea what his sin was but they would assume he must have sinned in some way.  Labeled as a sinner, he would again be considered an outcast and no one would have associated with him.

When Bartimaeus hears that Jesus is near, he calls out to him.  But he does not just call him by the name Jesus.  No, he adds the title “Son of David” indicating some recognition of Jesus’ greatness.  He asks Jesus for pity.

We do not hear the initial reaction of Jesus but we are told that “many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.”  They were treating him as an outcast.

He is not deterred.  He keeps calling out to Jesus.  Now, Jesus stops and tells his disciples to call Bartimaeus over.  Now, the disciples eagerly do so at Jesus’ command.

Jesus asks him “What do you want me to do for you?”  This is a complete reversal of last week when James and John asks Jesus to do what they ask.  This is Jesus’ initiative.  

Bartimaeus says he wants to see.  Jesus does nothing except say “your faith has saved you” and Bartimaeus is healed.  Bartimaeus was considered an outcast but he called out to Jesus in need and Jesus heard and answered his call.

What would you have done?  Would you have helped Bartimaeus or shunned him?  Would you have felt sorry for him in his blindness?  Would it have been out of compassion or ‘feeling bad’ for him?

I hope we might all want to help him but would we?

I know when people come to me walking down the street, I can be torn.  (For the record, I’m talking right now as an ordinary person without my collar on).  How do you react if you see someone who is unclean or smells.  I have to admit I am uncomfortable.  I want better for them but I struggle with knowing what really helps them.

Sometimes, assuming we give them a chance to speak before shunning them, they give a story that doesn’t quite add up.  Sometimes, the story hits home and we do something to help them.

What do you do?  Do you ignore them?  Who might you ignore and who might you help?  The blind?  The lame? A mother with a young child?

There is no one who Jesus won’t help.  

As individuals, we can’t help everyone.  But we have to begin somewhere.  

As a church, some say we should focus on the spiritual.  They say stick to what Jesus says.  Well, Jesus said in Matthew 25:31-46 to feed the hungry and care for the sick.  How much more clear do you need it to be?

We can do some of this individually and some of it through community organizations that pool the giving of our time, talent, and treasure.

Some such organizations are totally secular in nature.  I like faith to be a motivating factor in the mission of such organizations.  We are called to help anyone regardless of their faith and we don’t need to force our faith on them but we can let our faith influence our own actions.

All this is why I am a supporter of Catholic Charities.  When I was in Elmira, I served on the local board there.  For four years now, I have been on the board of Providence Housing which is part of Catholic Charities, and just recently I became a member of the Catholic Charities board here. 

How might you help as an individual or by helping a group like Catholic Charities?

 

Evangelization – What Is It?

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Our Evangelization Team met this week for an extended session to help learn about what they have done in the past and what they would like to do in the future.  It was also a chance for me to share with them some thoughts about what evangelization means to me and what evangelization ministries I have been involved with in the past.  So, I thought I would share some thoughts with you about what evangelization is.

Often, the word evangelization may lead to think about people who stand on the corner with signs like “John 3:16” or people who door to door to share their faith.  While that is part of evangelization it is not the whole picture.

If you check the glossary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church you will find the following definition of evangelization, “The proclamation of Christ and his Gospel (Greek: evangelion) by word and the testimony of life, in fulfillment of Christ’s command.”

Evangelization is to share the gospel.  It is not something we just do with those who don’t come to church.  It begins with people who already come to church, whether they come to church just at Christmas or Easter or every week or every day.  We all need to be evangelized in that we all need to work to deepen our relationship with Jesus. 

When evangelization works well, it is contagious.  When we deepen our own relationship with Jesus, we will want to talk about our faith with other people.  We will live our faith and that might motivate others to ask us about our faith. 

One of my primary responsibilities as pastor according to Canon Law is to see to the catechesis of all parishioners, done in large part in the homily.  I hope the homilies I offer do help you learn about and live our faith but I encourage you to put in more effort yourselves.  We tend to think catechesis (religious education) is something we do as children.  It really is something we must do for our entire lives.  While in this world, we will never know all there is to know about our faith.  You might spend time reading the Bible, spiritual books, or coming to parish activities for adults to learn more about our faith.

The last one isn’t something that gets done well in a lot of parishes but we are working on it and creating new opportunities.  What would work well for you?  CD’s to listen to in the car?  DVD’s to watch at home?  Guest speakers on topics of faith (what topics)? Or maybe just a night to be able to ask questions?

We’re looking for new opportunities to offer.  Let me know what you think might work.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Homily on Suffering

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Here is my homily for this past Sunday.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Isaiah 53:10-11
Hebrews 4:14-16
Mark 10:35-45
October 21, 2012

“Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”

This is the question that James and John ask of Jesus.  I imagine every one of us would get leery if someone said this to us.  We probably would immediately wonder what they want to ask of us that they know we won’t want to do.

Of course, none of us would do this.  Well, actually I think all of us might do it at some point without meaning too.  We might not say as much but sometimes when we pray we might more tell God what we want him to do rather than asking him what we should do.

Rather than respond yes or no Jesus replies back “Can you drink the cup that I drink?”  James and John respond “We can.”  

They are correct.  They will share in Jesus’ Cup but they don’t really realize the significance of this.  They are thinking in terms of Jesus’ greatness and glory.  They expect Jesus to take earthly power and to rule over the people.  James and John want places of honor.

Actually, they already hold a special place as two of the Twelve Apostles but they want more.  When the other ten find out what James and John are up to, they become “indignant” not really because they see the sin of pride in what James and John are asking.  Rather, they want the places of honor for themselves.

Jesus takes all of this and uses it as a teaching moment to tell them that to be great is not to rule over all people but instead greatness comes from serving others, being willing to make sacrifices for others.

From this story, I think there are two questions we should ask ourselves.  First, what does greatness mean to us?  Do we seek to have power and others serve us or do we seek to serve others in their needs?

Jesus died for our needs.  

The second questions we should ask ourselves is the question that Jesus asks James and John “Can you drink the cup that I drink?”

We can see this in terms of the blood of Christ and sacrifice.  James and John won’t have known about the Eucharist yet.  But just before this scene, Jesus has told the disciples for the third time about his coming Passion and they don’t get it.

Knowing of the Passion of Christ, the question “Can you drink this cup?” asks if we are willing to share in the sufferings of Jesus.

Something great, namely our salvation, comes from Jesus’ suffering.  Without his acceptance of his call to suffer our sins would not be forgiven and we would not be able to enter into eternal life.  As Isaiah writes of the Suffering Servant, “through his suffering, my servant shall justify many.”

Suffering can have value.

How much time do we spend avoiding suffering?  Now, it isn’t that we should want to suffer.  We should make sure we don’t suffer needlessly but sometimes I think we might put more effort into avoiding suffering than it would take to face the suffering.

There has been times when I have listened to people who sound like they go looking for suffering.  I don’t think we should look for ways to suffer.  Enough suffering can come our way without looking.  

What we do need to do with suffering is to accept it when it does come our way.  In accepting our suffering we can say to God, “Hey, I’m facing a difficult time right now.  I can’t handle it.  I need your help.”  

In doing so, we open ourselves to God’s grace.  It isn’t that God is going to make our sufferings vanish.  But God will help us to become better people through our sufferings.

For through our sufferings, we can find true humility and seek the Lord.  In suffering, we discover who we truly are, what our faith means to us, and we gain compassion for one another who suffer.  

We do not suffer alone.  We suffer with Jesus who knows what it is like to suffer and we suffer with one another.  Perhaps that is another great lesson of suffering.  We find out how is truly with us.

How do you define greatness?

What suffering are you trying to avoid and how might you accept it and seek God’s help?

Receiving the Eucharist

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The topic of who can receive Communion in the Catholic Church has come up a couple of times in recent weeks.  It probably began about the time we had the “divorce readings” on Sunday.  The topic of divorce and receiving Communion is often misunderstood.  Divorce itself does not prohibit one from receiving Communion.  For instance, a spouse who leaves a marriage because of abuse has not committed a sin.  Only if a person remarries without first obtaining an annulment are they considered to be in a state of sin (adultery).  Anyone who is guilty of mortal sin needs to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) (and seek to change the behavior) before receiving Communion.  I would like to add a clarifying statement about divorce.  Divorce itself is not a sin but if someone has engaged in sinful behavior such as adultery that led to the divorce, they would need to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving Communion.

Adultery and remarriage are not the only sins that need to be confessed before receiving Communion.  Any mortal (serious) sin is to be confessed before receiving Communion.  When the Church says that a person who has sinned shall not receive Communion without receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, it is not the intent to deny the person Communion.

To receive Communion in the Catholic Church, one must be in communion with God.  If we have committed a mortal sin, then we have broken that communion and need to ask God to restore it through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Without a doubt, all of us need the grace of receiving Communion.  It is the Bread of Life that strengthens against temptation and sin.  As a sign of our desire to follow God, we confess our sins and complete a penance to show our desire to be in communion with God.

The belief that we need to be in a state of grace to receive Communion is based on our belief in the Real Presence.  It is a foundational belief in the Catholic Church that through the power of the Holy Spirit the bread and wine are transubstantiated into the Body and Blood of Christ.  So, receiving Communion is no small matter.  We must take it very seriously.

Another question that people ask about receiving Communion is “Why does the Catholic Church say that only Catholics should receive Communion?”

Again, it is the concept of being in ‘communion’ that is of concern here.  To be ‘in communion’ means to share a common set of beliefs.  If a person does not belief in the Real Presence, then they are not in communion with our beliefs.  The same is true for other beliefs.  (There are some uncommon exceptions in emergency situations that I will not to go into here.) 

I want to be able to explain this better but I am not sure how to put it.  Some people might wonder if we are offending non-Catholics by saying Communion is only for Catholics.  It is not the intent to offend anyone.  The Catholic Church takes Communion very seriously and desires that everyone would be able to receive Communion as members of the Body and Blood of Christ.  But to just say it is ok for everyone to receive Communion without a common set of beliefs belittles the notion of ‘being in communion.’

I hope I have explained this well with care and compassion.  I mean no judgment on anyone.  I leave the judging to God.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Confirmation

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We have six parishioners who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation along with others from our region on October 23rd.  Here at Immaculate Conception I help lead the preparation sessions so I have been thinking about this sacrament and would like to offer some thoughts on it.

Confirmation is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation with the others being Baptism and Eucharist.  It is impossible to understand Confirmation without viewing it in light of Baptism.  In Baptism we receive the Holy Spirit and are sealed with it in Confirmation.  At Baptism, baptismal promises are made and those same promises are renewed at Confirmation.  At Baptism we are anointed with the Sacred Chrism and at Confirmation we are again anointed with the Sacred Chrism. 

St. Thomas Aquinas described Confirmation as a ‘sacrament of maturity.’  Hearing the word ‘maturity’ many came to see Confirmation as making a person an adult in the Church.  Since children as young as seven years old may be confirmed, it is not ‘maturity’ as an adult that we are talking about.  The maturity that St. Thomas Aquinas speaks of has to do with one’s individual awareness of faith.  Most Catholics are baptized as little babies, brought to the Sacrament by our parents.  At Confirmation, we should aware ourselves of what is going on in the Sacrament.

Another phrase I have heard associated with Confirmation is that it makes one a ‘soldier for Christ.’  By our Baptism and strengthened in our Confirmation we are indeed called to stand up for our faith in Jesus.  I think of the challenge to religious freedom that goes on even in our own country today.  But we are not to start wars as ‘soldiers of Christ.’  The Sacred Chrism we are anointed with serves as a symbol of how God strengthens to stand up for our faith.

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are knowledge, wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, reverence, and awe (fear) of the Lord.  May we always have this gifts that we might know how we are called to live our faith in our world today and the courage we need to do just that.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

 

 

Homily on Helping the Poor

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28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Wisdom 7:7-11
Hebrews 4:12-13
Mark 10:17-30
October 14, 2012

Stewardship Commitment Sunday

“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

It’s a question many of us might like to ask.  We want to be with God.  We have been created to be with God in Heaven.

Jesus’ immediate answer is to keep the commandments (which is something we should all do).  The man says he has indeed observed all the moments.

Jesus then (out of love) says “you are lacking in one thing, Go, sell what you have and give to the poor.”  We are told this was incredibly difficult for the man “for he had many possessions.”

We certainly should think about our priorities.  How important are our possessions to us?  Is God our priority or are things our priority?  Are we willing to use what we have to help the poor?

Now, often the question of helping others focuses on money (our treasure).  But that isn’t the only thing we have been given that we can use to help others.

We each have been something we are good at.  We are each gifted in some way.  In stewardship terms, we call these “talents.”  We might have talents that we don’t even see as such.   

Good stewardship is about taking the gifts we have been given (time, talent, and treasure) and using them to help other people.  It isn’t something we do once in a while but something we should be mindful all the time.  It’s a way of life.

To do this we count on the Holy Spirit to give us the gift of wisdom to realize the gifts we have.  We also count on the gifts of understanding and prudence to use the gifts we have been giving in accord with God’s Will.

We do this in different ways.  Perhaps we use our talents at work to help other people at work.  I think here of those working in the medical field or teaching for instance who see the good of the people they serve as their motivation and aren’t out just for money or an easy job.

Parents can use their gifts in caring for their children, a very important job.  Other people might help care for elderly parents.

Others might help their neighbor or volunteer for community organizations.

Then, there are the people who use their gifts here in our parish.  It takes many people working together to make possible what we do.

This is evident in the Mass itself.  Mass is not a one-person show.  Besides me, we have Sacristans, Lectors, Ministers of Communion, Ushers, Altar Servers, and Musicians.  Multiple people using what they have given to help make our Mass what it is meant to be.  By the way, we can always use more people in these roles.  We especially need more cantors for all the Masses and some altar servers especially at the 4:30 Mass.

But Mass is not the only thing we do around here.  That is a lot that goes on here.  You should have received our Annual Stewardship Commitment Form in the mail by now.  If you haven’t, there are a few copies near the entrances.  The form lists many of the opportunities to minister in our parish using your gifts.  There are also some brochures that provide brief descriptions of the ministries.

The forms certainly are an opportunity for you to volunteer for new ministries.  But we also ask that you fill them out to list the ministries you are currently involved in for two reasons.  One, it helps us make sure our lists are current but it can also serve as your own personal commitment to continue to serve using the gifts you have been given.

So, look at the lists.  Some things don’t require much time.  For instance being a Lector or Altar Server requires only a little time beyond Mass itself.

There are various committees like Parish Council and Evangelization that help set direction for or put into action our future.

There are people who bring Communion to the homebound.  It might be just to one person but that one person greatly appreciates it.

You could help with our youth groups.  

You could help our Service Team with our Giving Tree at Christmas.  Or hospitality at our coffee hours or something as simple as stuffing envelopes.

Do you have a little more time?  How about helping our Food Pantry or our gift shop?  

What can you do to make a difference?

Homily for October 8, 2012

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27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Genesis 2:18-25
Hebrews 2:9-11
Mark 10:2-16
October 7, 2012

It is not good for man to be alone.

These are the words that our God after he created the first man.  We are not created to be alone.  We are created to be loved, loved by God and loved by others.

Our love for others happens in many different ways from loving a stranger by caring about their needs to loving our friends and family. 

But ideally, human love reaches its deepest and most profound love in the love of a man and woman for each other as husband and wife.

Knowing man so well, God says that he will make a suitable partner for the man.  Then God creates the animals but none of them fit the bill.  Animals can make great companions but not in this way

Then, as the story continues, God took a rib from Adam and made Eve from the rib.  People have interpreted this to mean that there is one perfect match for each person that the man just needs to find the woman with his rib.

In reality what God is trying to tell us is that this ‘suitable partner’ needs to be of the same essence and compliment one another.  By complimenting, we mean how two work together.  One way of looking at it is ‘opposites attract.’  Then, in their different gifts make up for what is lacking.  But sometimes we find a best partner is the person with similar interests.

There is no magic answer to finding the ‘suitable partner’.  It takes effort.  And even when you find your ‘suitable partner’ it takes effort to make it work but when you find that person and put forth the effort to make it work, then the two become one flesh.

Of course, this is the ideal.  Then there is divorce.  Today there is a lot of it with about 50% of marriages ending in divorce.  In my own family there is more divorce than not.

The work to stop divorce begins before the marriage to ask oneself is this a person I want to spend the rest of my life with?  Am I willing, and will they be willing, to put effort in to make the marriage work.  Then, it takes a lot of effort after the wedding too.

Some people divorce because one or both parties aren’t willing to put the effort into the marriage.  Other times, there really are fundamental problems with the marriage.

Divorce is probably one of the great misunderstandings in today’s church.  For instance, some people think that if you are divorced, you can’t come up for Communion.  Divorce isn’t the problem (although depending on the reason for divorce, you might need to go to Confession).  Remarrying without getting an annulment is the point about Communion.

People think an annulment is just Catholic divorce.  That’s not true.  Divorce and an annulment operate from completely different premises.  

All that a divorce does is end a legal relationship.  It used to be you had to show some fault to get a divorce.  But today, if both parties agree to divorce, it’s over.  In some ways, it is no different that two owners of a business deciding to stop being partners.

But relationships aren’t that simple.  It isn’t just a contract to do things for each other.  

Jesus tells us that what God has joined together, no human being must separate.  Hearing Jesus words, the Church has no authority to end a marriage (separate).  An annulment does not end a marriage.

The wording is very difficult here.  What the church looks for in the annulment process is was the marriage a full marriage.  Even when an annulment is granted, the Church does not say the marriage never existed.  There was a marriage but there was something not “whole” about it.  It lacked the fullness of what a sacramental marriage is meant to be, two becoming one flesh.

The Church recognizes that there are reasons to divorce.  For instance, if you are facing real abuse, get out.  Patterns of adultery can be important here.

In cases like these, one divorces to protect themselves or their children.  But divorce is a legal process.  An annulment looks at what kept a marriage from being what it was meant to be.  

An annulment is not meant to be more hoops to jump through.  An annulment is an opportunity to talk about what was lacking.  If one looks beyond the ‘annulment process’ in a rules sense, it can be an opportunity for healing and understanding.  A divorce might be about blaming the other person.  An annulment looks at the relationship, what it was vs. what it was meant to be.  

The grounds for an annulment might be about the other person, it might not be.  It isn’t about blame.  It’s about finding God’s Will for the couple and moving forward.

May we always first pray that all marriages be full and valid marriages as God calls and when, in our humanness, that is lacking, may healing be found in God’s graces.

 

100 Days

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This week I passed the 100 day mark as pastor.  It has been a very busy 100 days.  When I was preparing to leave my last assignment as the Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of the Lakes, a few people said to me that as pastor, I would end up working even more hours.  I didn’t believe that to be true because I already was already working a lot of hours.

Turns out they were right.  I am working even more hours.  There are a few reasons for this.  One of them is I am the only priest in the parish so I do all the funerals and emergency calls.  As pastor, I attend even more meetings.  There is also the workshops for new pastors that I have attended.  There is the simple fact that I am new to the parish and am learning about the parish and our parishioners.  That takes time.  When people make requests for activities, I have to find out if it has ever been done before or is there anything similar already going on.  The bottom line is I am working more hours.

There is also the added responsibility I have as pastor which I take very seriously.  I can’t hand decisions off to someone else.  I do try to delegate work but ultimately the decisions are mine.

Fortunately, in the midst of all this, I know God is with me.  If God wasn’t helping, I could not do what I do.  God ensures his Will be done.  In God we trust.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

More on Sunday’s Gospel

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I want to take a moment to comment on the second part of Sunday’s Gospel that I didn’t discuss during the homily. 

Jesus says if your hand causes us to sin, cut it off.  If you foot causes you to sin, cut it off.  If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out!

This sounds extreme.  It’s pretty drastic action that will affect the rest of our life if we do this.  “The rest of our life” but wait, Jesus says we must take this drastic action so that we might “enter into life.”   He’s referring to eternal life.  If we sin, eternal life in Heaven is not available to us (except for the forgiveness won for us by Jesus on the Cross).  It is eternal life that we seek in faith.

As to cutting off our hand or foot, think about it.  Jesus says if you hand/foot/eye causes you to sin, get rid of it.  Does your hand, foot, or eye cause you to sin?

Our hand, foot, or eye do not control us.  They might be an instrument of sin.  We use them to commit sins but they do not cause us to sin.

What Jesus is trying to tell us is that we must reflect on what causes us to sin and then get rid of it.  In the Act of Contrition we say during the Sacrament of Reconciliation generally there is a line where we promise to avoid the occasion of sin.  Often, after people confess their sins, I ask them what caused them to do this to help them find a way to avoid the sin in the future.

What causes you to sin?  What do you need to get rid of?

Peace,

Fr. Jeff