Archive for the ‘Reflections’ Category
Be the Best Version of You
Posted on: March 25, 2018
We must learn to be ourselves. But we must also strive to improve over our defects. We shouldn’t give reasons to accept that our weaknesses are permanent parts of us. “If a man is rude and impatient, it is not because these are an expression of his best self; it is rather that they are an expression of behaviors that have been practiced. Personality tendencies and talents should be accepted, but character defects should be challenged. God loves you as you are – but he loves you too much to let you stay that way” (Matthew Kelly, “Perfectly Yourself,” p. 6).To be ourselves doesn’t mean remaining comfortable in our weaknesses. We must learn to celebrate our strengths however small they may appear to be.
The sacrament of reconciliation or penance is a very important sacrament of the Church. The Catholic Church in its teachings encourages the faithful to utilize this sacrament as a free gift of God’s forgiving grace. Going to confessions to receive absolution and forgiveness heals the soul of the penitent. In a state of mortal sin, confession is required before reception of Holy communion, except a grave reason prevents one from approaching the sacrament. In a state of venial sin, however, a good act of contrition can be said before reception of holy communion.
However, as important as the sacrament of confession is, it must not be used as a pretext to remain in the very acts that cause one to sin. One should not feel too comfortable in perpetually committing sin simply because the sacrament of penance exists. Efforts are needed! The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1451) states that “among the penitent’s acts, contrition occupies first place. Contrition is sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again.” If you find yourself going to confessions every day or every week, or at any opportunity of seeing a priest, then you may also need to examine yourself if you are making enough effort to stay away from those sins that take you to confessions all the time.
Our efforts to stay away from sin is very important. As we seek the gratuitous mercy of God and are encouraged to approach the sacrament of penance this season of Lent and in this year of mercy, let us also make a renewed effort to abstain from occasions of sin.
Mercy Heals while Condemnation Kills: A Reflection on the Woman Caught in Adultery (John 8:1-11)
Posted on: March 14, 2016
Jesus disappointed the scribes and the Pharisees by not presenting them with the type of answer they had hoped for. Instead, he challenged them to learn the virtue of mercy and compassion. Jesus clearly did not endorse the sin of the woman caught in adultery because he told her to go and sin no more. Jesus helps us to understand how the mercy of God works. God does not condemn us as long as we are alive. He gives us the opportunity to turn from bad to good, and His mercy is endless and gratuitous.
Those who tried to stone the woman caught in adultery represent the hearts of humans that are saturated with judgement and condemnation of other people without taking into account their own individual sins. When we learn of the sins of someone that have become public knowledge, before we say it serves him/her right and throw stones on the person, we should ask ourselves if we have no secrets that resemble what the person is accused of. Let us learn to pray for each other and wish our brothers and sisters good. No one deserves mercy, we all deserve justice. But mercy comes as a free gift from God. We should allow people the opportunity to find this gift through prayer and compassion rather than judgement and condemnation.
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