The Light Is ON For YOU -- Celebrating The Sacrament Of Penance
“Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” According to the gospels, these are among the first words spoken by Jesus as he began his public ministry. The word “repent” stems from a word that literally means “to turn around”. Repentance, therefore involves a simultaneous turning away from sin and turning toward God. Authentic repentance involves as much a change of attitude as a change of behavior. In other words, a conversion of heart is necessary.
Among the various topics discussed at the November 2012 meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, considerable attention was given to the Sacrament of Penance. A month prior to this meeting, in October, the need for a renewed sense of appreciation for the Sacrament of Penance figured prominently among the agenda and 58 propositions provided by the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization.
No person in his/her right mind can deny the existence of evil that plagues the human condition. One cannot pick up a newspaper, turn on a television, tune in a radio or click on the Internet without being made aware of the constant barrage of violence and chaos that exists in practically every facet of society. This violence and chaos often stems from overwhelming feelings of hurt, pain, fear, despair, guilt, isolation, resentment, anger, jealousy, envy, lust and all sorts of other feelings that take root in the human heart. While any given person may be appalled by a particular atrocity committed by another person, most of us would shutter at giving any consideration of how one’s own words and actions might contribute to an environment that may breed any such atrocity. Yet, as the Church has taught from the beginning, apart from Jesus and Mary, no human being has been spared the effects of Original Sin. Thus, we are all sinners. We all stand in need of divine mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation from time to time in our faith journey.
Nothing can dispel the devastating, and even lasting, effects of sinful thoughts, feelings, words and actions in one’s life and relationships like the Sacrament of Penance. It is the safest and most profound means of revealing the depths of one’s being in order to be purged of the insidious snare of sinfulness that can wreak havoc on the soul, mind and, at times, even the body. While it is human nature to have some bit of anxiety about divulging the more “shadowy” side of our lives to another person—in the case of celebrating the Sacrament of Penance, a priest—the purpose for such an encounter is to free ourselves from shame, guilt and fear that prevent us from more fully relishing divine love in our lives. This, in turn, enables us to love and serve our neighbor more fully and from proper motive as well.
All this is leading up to my desire to share with you a special program, entitled "The Light is ON for You,” which is being implemented in several dioceses around the country. As you may know, the Province of Indianapolis is comprised of the five dioceses in Indiana. All five bishops have agreed to set aside one evening during Lent, within our respective dioceses, to provide this unique opportunity supplied by The Light is ON for You. In the Diocese of Evansville, I have proposed that all parishes throughout our 12 counties set aside Wednesday evening, March 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. (local time of each parish). To pull this off, we need every able priest to make himself available in our churches for the individual celebration of the Sacrament of Penance. (NOTE: Regarding those parishes that have a regular Wednesday evening Mass, some parishes may reschedule their Mass for that particular evening while others choose to offer begin the program immediately following their Mass.) To learn more about this special program, including how to prepare and celebrate the Sacrament, I encourage you to check out the website, thelightisonforyou.org.
I encourage any and every one to take advantage of this special opportunity for individual sacramental celebration of God’s grace and mercy. Whether it has been weeks, months, years or decades since your last confession, all are welcome. In fact, the bishop, followed by his priests, must be the first in willingness to confess as a penitent. It is only in being able and willing to confess one’s own sins that a bishop or priest can be a good confessor for others. No matter how horrible and unforgivable anyone may feel, there is no one beyond the scope of God’s power to save or redeem. The priest is there to dispense the grace of Jesus Christ which He has entrusted to the Church. Indeed, we are all sinners standing in need of God’s mercy. In the Sacrament of Penance, made possible through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God meets that need and then some. Come and celebrate what it means to experience divine unconditional love. In turn, the transforming effect will enable each of us to provide a greater witness of love, mercy, compassion, peace and justice to a world so devastated by hate and fear. Love or hate, courage or fear, it all begins with the human heart. The Sacrament of Penance always involves a conversion of heart.
