Today we have our Advent Penance Service that includes First Penance for some of our children. \u00a0Below I share my homily with you to encourage you to think about what the Sacrament of Reconciliation means. \u00a0You will find a link to further resources at the end.<\/p>\n
Colossians 1:12-13
\nPsalm 51 (sung)
\nLuke 15:1-7
\nDecember 10, 2016<\/p>\n
Today we are here to celebrate our Advent Penance Service.\u00a0 We are blessed to have a total of four priests here so that everyone can have an opportunity for individual confessions after our service.<\/p>\n
I say blessed because I very much believe that, whatever name you call it, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a gift.<\/p>\n
We call it \u201cconfession\u201d because confessing our sins is an important part of the Sacrament. \u00a0We need to start by confessing our sins to let God forgive us.<\/p>\n
We call it \u201cpenance\u201d because we accept a penance to do as a sign that we are contrite, meaning we are sorry for our sins.<\/p>\n
We call it \u201creconciliation\u201d because our venial sins have hurt our relationship with God and our mortal sins break our relationship with God but through this sacrament God reconciles us, meaning his fixes what we broke.<\/p>\n
Today we have six of God\u2019s precious children who will be making their First Penance.\u00a0 I imagine some of them may be nervous or scared.\u00a0 That\u2019s okay.\u00a0 I bet if I asked the adults here, some of them are probably nervous too.\u00a0 It can be scary to talk about our sins.\u00a0 We don\u2019t like to admit when we have done something wrong.<\/p>\n
Yet we need<\/em> to.\u00a0 In our first reading, Paul writes to the Corinthians about how Jesus rescues us from darkness.\u00a0 The \u201cdarkness\u201d he is talking about is our sins.\u00a0 When we have broken God\u2019s commandments we step away from God.\u00a0 Without God there is darkness.<\/p>\n The good news is that God loves us so much to give us a way out of the darkness.\u00a0 God loves each and every one of us.\u00a0 To tell us how much, Jesus tells us the Parable of the Lost Sheep.\u00a0 He tells us about the shepherd who is taking care of 100 sheep.\u00a0 One is missing.\u00a0 He still has 99 but he isn\u2019t happy because one is missing.\u00a0 So, he goes looking for that one sheep and when he finds it, he rejoices.<\/p>\n When we sin, we can feel like we are lost.\u00a0 God loves us so much that He will do great things to bring us home.\u00a0 That\u2019s why God sent Jesus.\u00a0 Jesus came to save us.\u00a0 In just a couple of weeks we will celebrate Christmas.\u00a0 This is the day that Jesus was born for us.\u00a0 Jesus came to rescue us from our sins.<\/p>\n God doesn\u2019t like it when we sin but God is so happy when we come to confess our sins and say that we are sorry.<\/p>\n Think of it this way.\u00a0 Have you had a good friend do something that hurt you or made you feel bad?\u00a0 Next ask yourselves how much better you feel if your friend comes to you and tells you they are sorry.<\/p>\n Did you forgive them?<\/p>\n Jesus does.\u00a0 First, we tell Jesus what it is that we have done.\u00a0 Then, we accept a penance, and make our Act of Contrition to say how sorry we are.\u00a0 Then the priest will say the words of absolution as God forgives us.<\/p>\n One of things we should before going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation is an Examination of Conscience. \u00a0This invites us to think about what we need to confess. \u00a0Some sins may come readily to mind. \u00a0Others may not come so readily to mind. \u00a0The Examination of Conscience guides us to remember our forgotten sins and make a good confession. \u00a0You can find an Examination of Conscience I wrote (with the help of some others) online along with some videos and other materials I wrote at http:\/\/www.renewaloffaith.org\/reconciliation.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n Peace,<\/p>\n Fr. Jeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today we have our Advent Penance Service that includes First Penance for some of our children. \u00a0Below I share my homily with you to encourage you to think about what the Sacrament of Reconciliation means. \u00a0You will find a link to further resources at the end. Colossians 1:12-13 Psalm 51 (sung) Luke 15:1-7 December 10, …<\/p>\n