April 7, 2012 – Catechism 1443 – 1449

We always see the act of Reconciliation as something completely individual.  We are alone and speaking to a priest alone.  We find that one on one confession intimidating because we are telling our failures.  But maybe an easier way to think of it is what is talked about here.  Confession is not you individually asking forgiveness, but you seeking to rejoin the community that you have allowed yourself to be separated from.  Maybe not in a physical way (but that may be the case for those that have left the Church) but in a spiritual way through your sins.  Christ Church is about community and those in a state of mortal sin are outside of that community.  Confession is not just asking for forgiveness, its asking to be brought back into the fold.  The Priest has been assigned the duty of bringing about that connection.  Next time you are going to confession, do not think of it as confession your sins.  Think of it as getting rid of a wall that is blocking your path back into God’s community.  Look at it as not telling all the reasons your evil but think of it as listing the things that have made you lost.  Confession is a great and wonderful gift and one that we should not be afraid of.  Maybe looking at it in a different light will help some seek that gift more often.