Absolution

Jesus said, “Receive the Holy Spirit, If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:22-23).

            Some of the most profound moments of my Priesthood have come during my celebration of a Sacrament. I recall at one Baptism, when as I poured the water over the baby’s forehead and invoked the Trinitarian Formula, it struck me how this was the moment when this child became a member of the Church. I remember a Mass, when as I spoke the Words of Consecration over the bread and wine, I became deeply conscious of how this was the means by which my parishioners received the Body and Blood of Christ. Yet, many of my most profound experiences have come during a Confession. I recall one occasion when someone who had been away from God and the Church for over twenty years was struggling to end a sense of disconnection from everything in life. A long list of Serious Sins was recited punctuated by expressions of guilt and remorse. After we talked for a while, I said the Words of Absolution and I suddenly realized their power as all those sources of separation from God and the Church were gone. The look on the person’s face when we were done was unforgettable.

            In this passage from John, Jesus gives his Disciples the power by which sins are forgiven. Over the centuries, this authority has been passed on to their successors (the Bishops) and their assistants (the Priests) which has enabled the Church to become a source of healing for countless people.

            The importance of unity was a theme found throughout the latter part of John’s Gospel. In his reply to Philip, Jesus revealed his union with the Father by stating: “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” Later, Jesus desired his Disciples to be included in this unity by declaring: “may they also be in us.” This union was to be manifested in the relationship between Disciples as Jesus asked that “they may all be one.” Yet, in the Passion Story this unity was destroyed by Sin as Christ was physically and spiritually disconnected from his Disciples. Judas betrayed him. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. The Beloved Disciple was with Annas when Christ was questioned but never intervened. At the Cross, the Beloved Disciple witnessed the Death of Jesus along with the women and when told by Mary Magdalene about the empty tomb went to it. But when the Risen Christ appeared to them, the Disciples were hiding in a locked room for fear of the authorities.

            Jesus began the renewal of unity between himself and his Disciples with his first words “Peace be with you” which communicated no judgement or condemnation for their failures. He then gave them the Mission he was given by his Father. Finally, he breathed the Holy Spirit upon them and gave them the authority by which Sins are forgiven. This highlighted the main focus of their Mission was the communication to all people that the source of strife within their lives (Sin) was overcome by Christ and that by the power he granted to his Disciples unity could be restored through them.

            During this Covid 19 Pandemic, many individuals are feeling a sense of separation from God and other people. There are the times when something was said to a loved one in frustration or anger about not wearing a mask. There are the occasions when individuals have acted without consideration for the safety of those around them. There are the times when advice from medical experts has changed and people no longer believe them. On a personal and collective level, many individuals feel they are being pulled apart by forces they cannot control. It can be hard in such a stressful situation to take time to examine where we are at in our relationships with God and the Church. However, it is for this reason that doing so is important. Sacramental Confession enables Catholics to reflect upon their lives, identify where they might be heading in the wrong direction and do something about it. No distance between us and God and His Church is so large it cannot be overcome. Hearing the words of Absolution is a tangible reminder disconnection with God is not a permanent condition. The authority to forgive sins in Christ’s name is a great privilege for a Priest and a reminder he is to always be a source of healing in the world.

            After the experience I shared earlier, the person thanked me for hearing their Confession. I felt I was the one who should be expressing thanks for the privilege.

April 11, 2021