About this time of year I have an alb and purple stole rolled up in the back seat of my car. Tonight I get to do some parish confessions and then go to help at a high school retreat. It is good to do.As a young priest there were two other parishes that we were connected with. Reconciliation was in the context of a Reconciliation Service. On Mondays we all gathered at St. Thomas, Tuesdays was Ss. Peter and Paul, and Wednesday was at St. Margaret's. At each parish there were about one hundred persons each. The priests would gather for dinner before hand, and then go to the service which would last about two hours.
Today the Reconciliation services seem less popular. It is also difficult to gather priests together for dinner anymore. It is common now to have time available for individual confessions. That seems to work out fine.
In I Corinthians St. Paul alludes to the fact that we are members of the Body of Christ. Paul will use this image to convey the responsibility which we have with and towards each other. If part of the body hurts, the entire body hurts. We do not have to look too far to see how this works in the real world. Just in simple ways disrespect, arrogance, and anger, all lead to brokenness in our homes and communities.
More often than not Reconciliation becomes like spiritual direction. While communal reconciliation made a clear statement that we are sinners together, the one on one approach can be a powerful experience for many people. It is a great sacrament of healing and the affirmation of God's love and mercy.
I will be bouncing around the county for next few days - minus the dinner. It is part of priestly ministry to share the 'Good News.'
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