“The Grace of Confession and Holy Communion”

After healing the leper: Jesus said: “See that you tell no one anything…”

The question is: Why did Jesus command people to not tell others of the miracles He performed? … Because - Jesus did not want people to misunderstand who He really was and what His true mission was… what He’s all about.  He did not want to be thought of - only as a mere miracle worker.

The deepest meaning of his Being, his mission, his ministry could be understood only after His Resurrection.

After Jesus’ transfiguration (Matthew 17:2-3) – after Peter, James and John saw a glimpse of Jesus’ glory… As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus told them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

That is why after Jesus’ Resurrection and before ascending to heaven - Jesus said to his disciples, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, (meaning – Now, you can tell all – all about Me) – Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you and behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

Meaning - Now, since we know Christ better – since we now have a greater knowledge and understanding of Who Jesus really is - our mission is - to proclaim the Good News of God’s love, grace, mercy and salvation through Jesus Christ - starting with our families.

As has been said; “You cannot give what you do not have.” It is important that we be united first with Jesus – it is important to be in communion with God first… to be in communion with the Body of Christ… to be able to fulfill our mission… to be what we are called to be.

Jesus said: “I am the vine; you are the branches – apart from me – you can do nothing.”

…And as St. Paul said: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

The   question is:  What is it that separates us from God, from Christ and what breaks our communion with the Body of Christ, what breaks our relationship with one another and therefore causing us not to be able to fulfill our mission?  For some – they have already forgotten about this word - It is SIN - which is spiritual leprosy.

For lepers - In addition to physical suffering and pain, what was worse was that lepers were isolated from their family and excluded from the life of the community.

Like leprosy, sin has both personal and social impact …. Sin breaks the communion between the person and God and it also breaks the communion or the relationship between the person and the rest of the Body of Christ, the community.

And our Gospel story today is a beautiful example…. not just of Jesus healing the leper, but of what happens to us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, in Confession.  Jesus understood not only leprosy, but he understood also sin. 

And as with leprosy, when Jesus healed the leprosy and sent the person to the priest to allow him to return to the community, the same happens in confession.

Jesus is actually the one who heals us in the sacrament of Reconciliation.  The role of the priest as a confessor is very much the same role as those Jewish priests in the scriptures – which is to acknowledge the forgiveness given by God to the person, and in the name of the Church, in the name of the Body of Christ, to re-admit this lost sheep – so to speak - back into the fold – back into the community. 

We know from the teachings of the Church that if we have committed a mortal or serious sin, that we are NOT to receive Communion until first we have confessed our sins and have been absolved. 

Why? Because - When we celebrate and when we receive the Eucharist, we are – in essence - making a profound public act of faith (before others, before the community) - expressing that we are in complete union with God and with one another.  That is why we call the Eucharist – Holy Communion.

So - if our communion with God and with one another is broken by serious sin - before we would come up and make that public act of faith - we better make sure that we really are in communion with God and with one another… because you commit another more serious sin if you do that – if you receive Communion unworthily.

We make this public expression of faith when we receive Communion - So that the Eucharist is preserved as something that actually signifies what we say it signifies – Holy Communion with God and with one another.

Again - When you come to the table of the Lord and receive Holy Communion – you are actually publicly expressing that you are in union with God and with one another. 

Confession then makes sense when we remember to connect it to Holy Communion – to the Eucharist.  It is when people think of Confession separate from the Eucharist, that is when people begin to wonder or even question why going to Confession is even necessary.  We need to put these two profound sacraments – Confession and Holy Communion - back together again to really understand the WHY of Confession… why we need to go to confession … Why? …so we can receive Holy Communion - Jesus Himself – Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.

All the other Sacraments also point towards receiving Communion.

There are people who think that they do not have to go to confession.  And, what is really sad - is that they continue to receive the Holy Eucharist - as if it meant nothing to them – but just a Catholic thing to do… that is the extent of why they receive Communion.

Sadly, as Pope Pius XII said and as Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis have all repeated. ... “The greatest sin today is that people have lost their sense of sin.”  That is because – people have lost their sense of identity – they lost their sense of who they belong to - who they are (beloved children of God) – people lost their sense of what they are meant to be… what life is all about.

People do not go to confession anymore… because they think and believe that everything can now be justified and rationalized and explained away based on worldly perspective… therefore, people do not take responsibility for their actions… because there is always something or someone to blame… other than themselves.

You see - SIN is real. Choices we make do impact our relationships… and have eternal consequences.

And it is very important to remember this – when it comes to sin – venial or mortal. If a person has committed a great sin, a serious sin - it lies heavy on his conscience; but if he is truly sorry, goes to Confession - he is forgiven and the guilt is taken away.  But if you are one of those who think – “I only have venial sin” - you see – if a person is constantly doing small things that are wrong, the danger is that he does not feel any more guilt at all, and so is not really sorry, does not go to confession and therefore he remains a sinner.  So you see, it is as important to avoid little sins as big ones.

You see - If you keep committing small sins, it will weaken your resolve and you will and pretty soon - will be committing more serious sin… that is reality check.

We, Catholics, have the great gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  That is where the Lord, through the priest, cures us of all of our spiritual sicknesses.

As in all Sacraments – Going to Confession is an intimate personal encounter with Jesus.  You are actually confessing your sins to Jesus and when the priest absolves – it is actually Christ who absolves your sins.

We should learn from the man with leprosy who, kneeling before Christ, humbly recognized that he was sick and needed to be cured of his sickness.  Our soul also needs to be healed.

I am saying this with all due respect: To those who come to Mass… but do not receive Communion - with all due respect - coming to Mass and not receiving Holy Communion – in a very simplified analogy - is like coming to a banquet but you do not eat… it does not make sense… But it is great that you come here – at least - and hopefully, eventually, you will be able to receive Communion.

To those who do not and cannot receive communion because of your personal reasons - please take this as an invitation to let us help you get over whatever obstacles you might have that prevent you from receiving Holy Communion - the Eucharist – Jesus Himself - the source and summit of Christian life… So – we invite you – let us help you – and come and see and taste the goodness of the Lord… Do not miss out on the amazing grace of the Eucharist.  Jesus is reaching out to you NOW.

 I think the response to our Responsorial Psalm (32) today evokes or expresses what we feel after Confession and after receiving Holy Communion:  “I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.” Awesome! Beautiful!

 This coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday… the beginning of Lent – the period when we are all invited again to examine our lives, to examine our consciences and to renew our covenant relationship with God… Who loves us and He is merciful.  

God bless…