One
area of the monastery I might prefer to skip over is the
Confessional. This place
is part of the physical monastery, certainly - but does it have to be part of the spiritual monastery as well? I mean, maybe I'd rather think about a nice
little “friendship area,” where I imagine myself talking things over with Jesus
and I can “hear” Him telling me what a really good job I’m doing out here in the
world. After all, I’m not a big
sinner. I don’t go around robbing stores. Perhaps I could
just do away with the confessional part, replacing it with something less
untidy.
The
truth is, however, that the confessional IS part of the monastery. It is part of the physical monastery, and
it must be part of the “monastery” of a cloistered heart.
To tell Our Lord that we are sorry for our
sins is, in reality, coming to the Doctor for healing of our wounds. “As a
doctor hates sickness and does everything he can to eliminate it and to help
the sick person, so do you, my God, work in me with your grace to extinguish
sin and free me from it.” (St. Augustine)
Am
I aware of “sicknesses” in my soul today?
Am I carrying a burden of sin or failure in need of healing? If so, I can be assured that Jesus knows. And in His compassion, He waits.
With
His forgiveness, mercy, and healing held out to me, Jesus waits…..
For reflection:
“Should
we fall into sin, let us at once humble ourselves sorrowfully in His presence,
and then, with an act of unbounded confidence, let us throw ourselves into the
ocean of His goodness, where every failing will be canceled and anxiety will be
turned into love.” (St. Paul of the
Cross)
"Let no one doubt
concerning the goodness of God; even if a person’s sins were as dark as night,
God’s mercy is stronger than our misery.
One thing alone is necessary: that the sinner set ajar the door of his
heart, be it ever so little, to let in a ray of God’s merciful grace, and then
God will do the rest.” (St. Faustina).
“Repentance
is the renewal of Baptism and a contract with God for a second life.” (St. John
Climacus)
“If
my conscience were burdened with all the sins it is possible to commit, I would
still go and throw myself into our Lord’s arms, my heart all broken up with
contrition. I know what tenderness He
has for any prodigal child of His that comes back to Him.” (St. Therese of
Lisieux)
For prayer:
“I acknowledged my sin to You, my guilt I covered not. I said, ‘I confess my faults to the Lord,’
and You took away the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32:5)
"I have brushed away your offenses like a cloud, your
sins like a mist; return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” (Isaiah 44:22)
“As
far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from
us. As a father has compassion on his
children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. For he knows how we are formed; he remembers
that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:12-14)
Text not in quotes
(painting: Sankt Janobus del Altere by Rembrandt)
Text not in quotes
(painting: Sankt Janobus del Altere by Rembrandt)