Reflection
It's astonishing to some people that we Catholics will spend time talking to a priest about our deepest faults. Confession of sins and being assured of God's forgiveness is not something that everyone readily understands. But when we take the time to really acknowledge our sinfulness, to admit to ourselves, to God, and to another person (the priest) what we have done wrong, we can experience the healing that comes from the confession of our sins.
The Gospel today explicitly reminds us that the forgiveness of sins is connected to healing. When we confess our sins, make an act of contrition, and receive absolution we are healed in that sacrament. The paralyzed man who was dropped through the roof in front of Jesus by his friends had his sins forgiven. Much to the astonishment of the crowd, the paralytic got up, rolled up his mat, and walked out the door. It was that easy.
There is a lot of misconception about the sacrament of penance. Once a person gets over the hurdle of fear or shame though, it really is as easy as the actions of the paralyzed man. There was a lot of work on the part of others to get him in front of Jesus. They had to carry him there, open the roof, and lower him down. And before we go to confession, there is some work we have to do. We have to examine our conscience, and be willing to be honest with ourselves and with God. But after that it's easy. We sit down, tell the priest our sins, receive a penance, pray a prayer of contrition, receive absolution, and then go on our way.
It is the work of reconciliation that takes much longer, sometimes even a lifetime. Because sin fractures relationships, confession really is the easy part. It is what we do afterwards to heal the wounds that is the most demanding. It is a good thing Lent begins on Wednesday!
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Prelude Music
Totus Tuus - 10-30-2011
First Reading
Thus says the LORD:
Remember not the events of the past,
the things of long ago consider not;
see, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the desert I make a way,
in the wasteland, rivers.
The people I formed for myself,
that they might announce my praise.
Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob,
for you grew weary of me, O Israel.
You burdened me with your sins,
and wearied me with your crimes.
It is I, I, who wipe out,
for my own sake, your offenses;
your sins I remember no more.
Second Reading
Brothers and sisters:
As God is faithful,
our word to you is not "yes" and "no."
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ,
who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me,
was not "yes" and "no, " but "yes" has been in him.
For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him;
therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory.
But the one who gives us security with you in Christ
and who anointed us is God;
he has also put his seal upon us
and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.
Gospel
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,
it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
not even around the door,
and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,
they opened up the roof above him.
After they had broken through,
they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
"Child, your sins are forgiven."
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
"Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?"
Jesus immediately knew in his mind
what they were thinking to themselves,
so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk?'
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"
-he said to the paralytic,
"I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home."
He rose, picked up his mat at once,
and went away in the sight of everyone.
They were all astounded
and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Fr. Tony
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Responsorial Psalm
R. (5b) Lord, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
Blessed is the one who has regard for the lowly and the poor;
in the day of misfortune the LORD will deliver him.
The LORD will keep and preserve him;
and make him blessed on earth,
and not give him over to the will of his enemies.
R. Lord, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
The LORD will help him on his sickbed,
he will take away all his ailment when he is ill.
Once I said, "O LORD, have pity on me;
heal me, though I have sinned against you."
R. Lord, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
But because of my integrity you sustain me
and let me stand before you forever.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from all eternity. Amen. Amen.
R. Lord, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
