The Sacrament of Reconciliation – sounds scary…
One view (from a 1916 novel):
At the last moment of consciousness the whole earthly life passed before the vision of the soul and, ere it had time to reflect, the body had died and the soul stood terrified before the judgment seat. God, who had long been merciful, would then be just. He had long been patient, pleading with the sinful soul, giving it time to repent, sparing it yet awhile. But that time had gone. Time was to sin and to enjoy, time was to scoff at God and at the warnings of His holy church, time was to defy His majesty, to disobey His commands, to hoodwink one’s fellow men, to commit sin after sin and to hide one’s corruption from the sight of men. But that time was over. Now it was God’s turn: and He was not to be hoodwinked or deceived. Every sin would then come forth from its lurking place, the most rebellious against the divine will and the most degrading to our poor corrupt nature, the tiniest imperfection and the most heinous atrocity. What did it avail then to have been a great emperor, a great general, a marvelous inventor, the most learned of the learned? All were as one before the judgment seat of God. He would reward the good and punish the wicked. One single instant was enough for the trial of a man’s soul. One single instant after the body’s death, the soul had been weighed in the balance. The particular judgment was over and the soul had passed to the abode of bliss or to the prison of purgatory or had been hurled howling into hell.
(James Joyce: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man)
The Gospel:
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”
They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/8 – 51008010-d She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, from now on do not sin anymore.” (John 8:3-11)
From this we got to fear of damnation, fire and brimstone, can’t go to communion without confession, and the whole Catholic guilt trip. How did that happen?
Augustine’s dark legacy. Fear of death. End of the Roman world. Legalism of Middle Ages (Black Death etc). Retribution and atonement.
Let’s start in a different place…
Buddhists have a concept of “Mindfulness” – being aware of what you are doing and what you are feeling at every moment. St Ignatius of Loyola has a very similar concept which he calls discernment. We should always think clearly about what we are doing, recognize how it will affect us and others.
We don’t need to go to confession to receive God’s forgiveness. You have that even before you ask for it (parable of the Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32). But if your relationship with God consists of continuously taking His forgiveness for granted, it’s unlikely to be a strong relationship – not for any lack on His side, but because you aren’t putting anything into it.
The basics of the Sacrament of Reconciliation:
- Examination of Conscience
- Acknowledgement of sins / Contrition
- Absolution
- Penance
You are not confessing to the priest – you are confessing to God. The priest is there in the place of Jesus and provides absolution in His name.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:21-23)
In the Middle Ages Confession and Communion became tightly linked in people’s practice – and very infrequent. The Church instituted a rule that Catholics should go to Confession and receive the Eucharist at least once a year. That “Easter Duty” still exists – although for most people the idea of receiving the Eucharist only once a year would seem strange, while Confession/Reconciliation has dropped out of many peoples’ practice.
If we are in the habit of thinking about what we are doing, and reflecting on the good and bad in the day, then the Sacrament of Reconciliation is “just” the recognition of that process as part of our life within the Church community. This is also why since Vatican II there has been an emphasis on a communal rite of Reconciliation, in addition to the individual rite. Sins are personal but never private.
The focus of the sacrament should be on what God is doing, not on what we are doing.
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:13-15)
This sacrament used to be known as “The Last Rites” and was thought of as focused on the time just before death. Also since Vatican II the emphasis has been moved back to a more general support for those who are (seriously) sick, with a rite of anointing carried out within the community, where possible, not by the priest at the bedside of a dying person.
This anointing recognizes that not only does the community pray for the sick person, but that that person is a participant in the suffering of Christ and an example to the community, particularly of hope.