My RCIA Diary

We talked last Sunday about confession....I was nice to learn about whey catholics observe such a thing. I look forward to participating. When I worked with counseling children, one of the activities we made use of was writing things on pieces of paper and in some cases ripping them up and throwing them away. As symbolic as this is....it only works if the person believes it. I think that a lot of people look at sin in the same way they look at a traffic ticket....oh well-"'I"t isn't like I killed anybody or anything." However, as anybody who's been in counseling can tell you, those there are things that can literally eat you alive. The process of getting rid of those things which stand in your way can be very daunting to say the least. If you truly consider yourself a christian, then I think you have to believe that forgiveness of sins is both a symbolic and literal "letting go" of those things which hinder our lives and as a result hinder our relationship with our creator.

Early in this process....A thought has come to my mind. I have heard many people say Catholics believe that they can sin because they can go to confession and be absolved. Does anyone remember the saying from the 80's "---- Happens", well let me tell you "Sin Happens". It is no respecter of persons, regardless of age, race, social standing, or anything else...we all sin no more, no less. I am certainly no scholar when it comes to official church doctrine and I know that this is "dumbing it down" but reduced to it's simplest form I think this is what it boils down to. I have seen for a fact, all kinds of people...spiritual, non-spiritual, catholic, non-catholic, wealthy, poor, etc. who can not let go of sin whether they were the perpetrator or the victim of sin. When you even begin to consider the fact that Christ has saved you from such things and indeed has given us the keys to wipe the slate. Wiping the slate takes on a very awesome and mysterious tone. I saw a great deal of CONVICTION on Father Dan's face when speaking of the importance of confession and I can really appreciate that. What a wonderful gift to participate in such a thing.

I find that the process that I am being exposed to is very cathartic and has a very important place in my relationship with God and myself. (are the two much different). We have learned that confession is a healing sacrament and I Agree. I look forward to making it part of my routine worship.