PLEASE PRAY FOR ME, FOR I TOO, AM A SINNER.
“But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him” Luke 15:20
None of us are strangers to the need for forgiveness. There are times in our lives when it becomes the only thing that matters to us, we can think of nothing else. Forgiveness of self is perhaps the most elusive of all; it can rob us of our peace and purpose.
It is of course, the forgiveness of God that alone will rescue and save us; through experiencing the mercy of God we can come to forgive ourselves. God is revealed to us through the life and ministry of Jesus his Son, God is our loving father who runs to embrace us and welcome us home.
It is through the Church’s sacrament of penitence and reconciliation (commonly known as confession) we are admitted to our own “tent of meeting” in which God speaks to us as he did to Moses “face to face, as one speaks to a friend” (Ex.33.11) the role of the Priest is as go-between, a vessel, a faithful and reliable messenger, agents of transformation, midwives of a new birthing in the Spirit. As it is written in the words of the Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion “if you requireth further comfort or counsel, let him come to me, or to some other discreet and learned minister of God’s word, and open his grief, that by the ministry of God’s word he may receive the benefit of absolution.”[1] The Priest is to be true friend, and confidant to the troubled penitent, whose fears we calm and whose hands we take. Priest and penitent meet as fellow pilgrims, for here the grace of God is breaking into our mutual brokenness.
In my own journey I did not discover this sacrament until my time at theological college. One Lenten morning with knees knocking, a wobbly stomach and full of uncertainty I dragged myself to the place of encounter and I clumsily stumbled upon the tender mercy and grace of God.
The sacrament of reconciliation is a central and important part of our Christian life and I long for others to find in it the grace and strength which I have found and discover the means of healing which God has provided for all people.
“There is a time in every life when the very act of looking back and taking stock becomes essential to going forward”.[2]
Lent is the 40 day penitential period leading up to our great celebration of Easter, during which the Christian Church prepares itself anew to walk with Jesus through his betrayal, execution and Resurrection. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the two chief solemn days when the sacrament of reconciliation can be offered. For those of you seeking this sacrament I would recommend that you make time in prayer to seek guidance and support by the Holy Spirit. This time of self-examination is to discern what calls for the forgiveness of God. I too will devote my time to discernment, prayer and spiritual preparation with loving attention towards Christ who has borne all sin.
Confidentiality
The sacrament of reconciliation requires that what is said in confession to a priest may not be disclosed. The ministry of reconciliation, as an extension of Jesus’ own ministry, lies at the heart of this vocation. There can be no disclosure of what is confessed to a priest. This principle holds even after the death of the penitent. The priest may not refer to what has been learnt in confession, even to the penitent.
The sacrament will be available in the morning of Ash Wednesday 10.30am -12.30pm and in the afternoon of Good Friday 1.30pm-3.30pm at St Bartholomew’s Church Meltham. I will also be available throughout Lent for you to either make your confession at a convenient time or if you would prefer to deepen your understanding of this sacrament then please do come and talk with me.
God’s Blessing: Revd Charlene: 01484 851334, charlene.smith1979@gmail.com
GO IN PEACE.
[1] 1662, Book of Common Prayer, The order for the administration of the Lord’s Supper
[2] Paula Gooder
Nicolas Stebbings CR
Richard Giles
Julia Gatta and Martin L. Smith
Common Worship, The Reconciliation of a Penitent
