O Sacred Lord of Ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free. (Exodus 3:1-8; 20:1-20; Deuteronomy 26:5-9)
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Who am I that I think I can tell God what is right for my life?
I went through a lot of years when I skipped the graces of Confession. I was nervous. I was unsure. I was awkward and stressed about telling my sins to a priest. And the face to face stuff, scared straight, I was. I tried not to sin as much as possible, that was my strategy. If I didn't sin, I didn't need to go to Confession. Right?
I found my way back to the Confessional. I am still at times nervous. I am still at times awkward and unsure. Sometimes I still get stressed. Usually it is fitting my day into the priests' schedules because there aren't generous Reconciliation times these days.
I always go to the priest face to face. I still try not to sin, but I have recognized that my need for God is that I have a sinful nature and it is easy, oh so easy, to fall into sin or sinful attitudes. Confession gives me the grace to begin again.
And when the priest stretches out his arm to offer forgiveness, I have to think of this line from the O Antiphons. God has set me free.
I went through a lot of years when I skipped the graces of Confession. I was nervous. I was unsure. I was awkward and stressed about telling my sins to a priest. And the face to face stuff, scared straight, I was. I tried not to sin as much as possible, that was my strategy. If I didn't sin, I didn't need to go to Confession. Right?
I found my way back to the Confessional. I am still at times nervous. I am still at times awkward and unsure. Sometimes I still get stressed. Usually it is fitting my day into the priests' schedules because there aren't generous Reconciliation times these days.
I always go to the priest face to face. I still try not to sin, but I have recognized that my need for God is that I have a sinful nature and it is easy, oh so easy, to fall into sin or sinful attitudes. Confession gives me the grace to begin again.
And when the priest stretches out his arm to offer forgiveness, I have to think of this line from the O Antiphons. God has set me free.