[blockquote name=”John 8:10-11″]“Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She replied, ‘No one, sir.’ Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, (and) from now on do not sin anymore.’” – John 8:10-11[/blockquote]
In order for anyone to become the disciple that God is calling them to be, they must first come to the realization that they are real humans with real human feelings, emotions, and yes, flaws. And it is through these flaws that we realize that we are dependent on God and His love and mercy. Our merciful God understands our weaknesses and that is why He has given us the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a means to reunite us to Himself when we stumble along our journey.
Every time we go to Confession, we acknowledge before God that we are sinners in need of His great mercy. Each time we confess our sins, we reach down to the depths of our spiritual wounds and say to God, “Lord, I am broken. Please make me whole.” By admitting to our faults and seeking reconciliation with God, we express the love we have for Him, our sorrow for harming our relationship with Him and the Church, and our desire and resolution to live out our lives with greater zeal to lead others to His love.
As one who is in formation for the sacred priesthood, the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is essential to configuring myself ever more closely to the image of Christ. As time progresses in the seminary, you discover more of who you are and come to a greater understanding of your identity. That understanding also entails coming to the realization that there are certain things that you need to work on. Some of the things you learn about yourself may require you to loosen or tighten a few bolts and sometimes they require you to be willing to transform yourself. It might not seem easy, but it is an invitation from Christ to come closer to Him, to build a relationship with Him, to become like Him.
Confession is the opportunity to experience God’s mercy and forgiveness. By laying down your burdens before Christ in the sacrament, you surrender yourself to that great mercy and profess that you understand Who it is that can heal your wounds. Through the words of absolution spoken through the priest, the same Jesus Christ Who made the lame walk, the deaf hear, the blind see, and even the dead live again, has cured your spiritual illness and has transformed you in the same way that He transformed the adulteress in St. John’s Gospel.
One of the reasons that I wanted to begin formation for the priesthood is because of a great desire to bring God’s healing to people both physically and spiritually. And I often wonder how awesome it must be for a priest to be able to absolve the sins of a penitent. As one who has gone to Confession many times, I can certainly testify of the wonderful feeling one has when perfect union with Christ is restored. But how much more fulfilling must it be for a priest to understand that, despite his own unworthiness, God has given him the great gift to be His instrument to restore people to Him? What an amazing gift!
If you feeling God is calling you to the priesthood, I urge you to take advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and I highly recommend speaking to a priest who can help guide you spiritually as you discern your call. By placing yourself at the mercy of God, you will find it easier to respond to the invitation which God desires for you.
Father Carlo Santa Teresa
Latest posts by Father Carlo Santa Teresa (see all)
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