Confession!

I went to confession tonight, and I just wanted to come on and say "Thank GOD!" we have this wonderful sacrament in the Catholic Church. And to encourage others who fear or reject this sacrament to go. It doesn't hurt, the priest isn't going to judge you or smack you over the head for bad sins. It's a blessing to be able to get these things off your mind, soul, and heart, and ask God for forgiveness. Jesus himself heard confessions, forgave sins, and instructed His priests He left on earth to do the same thing. It's a gift from Him to us. TAKE ADVANTAGE of such a great gift! It's like hitting the lottery, and you win every time!

And to those who insist they can confess directly to God: Sure you can. But why not get the WHOLE benefit from the sacrament and do it the right way?

In the words of JPII: Do not be afraid! God loves you, go to confession and take part in your church!

Meahwhile, yes it's been a while since I posted but it's busy time for me. And it's a struggle keeping this fire stoked while getting immersed in working again. I'm likely to become obssessed with work at the expense of all other things, and I don't want it to be that way. I came back to God because that old way wasn't working out, and I didn't want to work my life away without coming closer to God.

Last week was a tough week with the Va Tech shootings. It seemed to take a 100 years to get through. When I went to mass on Sunday, it seemed like I hadn't been in forever, even though it was a week. I got wrapped up in work, in the tragedy of my friend dying, life, the Tigers, everything. I really needed what the mass gave me last week. I was at a low, and going to church last Sunday was a booster shot in the arm from God. The gospel reading was about Jesus asking Simon/Peter (the ROCK on which Jesus built his church) if he loved Jesus 3 times. Thankfully our priest took time to explain the meaning of this passage, based on original writing. Jesus was asking Peter to agape Him, or love him unconditionally and fully. But Peter kept answering that he loved him fidelis-ly, or in a friendly or brotherly way. Yet Jesus did not get mad, or chastize Peter for being afraid of loving him unconditionally, He accepted it and promised to help Peter and start over with him. Just as Jesus is always willing to start over and teach us again, and again, and again, and again.

It was what I needed. After a week where I had ignored my faith for other things of this world, here was Jesus speaking to me, telling me to come back, He will start over with me if I need to. And those were welcome words. Like water to a thirsty man.

Jesus is a wonderful God. God is wonderful. God is loving and forgiving and we forget that, think that He can't love us because we don't love ourselves or are ashamed sometimes. But the truth is, He is always willing to start over with us. We shouldn't be so stupid or arrogant to think otherwise.