“Go in Peace, your Sins are Forgiven….”
The sacrament of reconciliation is one that I didn’t always value. Between Catholic grade school until last year, I’m sure my participation in it numbered less than five times.
Realizing my mortality doesn’t come with a date certain inspired me to ask God to forgive my sins. I also ask at the same time to help me avoid sin and the near occurrence of future sin.
There is a beauty and power to saying your sin out loud and receiving absolution. I think it’s akin to writing your sins down on paper, folding them up and burning them, but with the Priest providing the flames. Cathartic.
Some of what I’m about to say next doesn’t fully vibe with Catholic teachings. I’m a good Catholic, not a great one, but I understand where my ideas veer off the hardline. I’ve watched, and been obsessed with, videos of near death experiences. I’ve also listened to mediums. I know the arguments that mediums could be the devil or evil spirits who are just listening and parroting things back to us, but why would they do that if it gives comfort? Near death experiences very often include a life review. Paul’s second letter to Corinth talks about the judgement seat of Christ, which is for believers and to determine if our actions, works and faith are worthy of reward. I believe, with no proof, that this is the life review.
I didn’t care when I was younger if I was worthy to enter heaven or not. Foolish, ignorant, risky. My satori, my mortality, compels me to consider my actions, works and faith and funnel them through the calculus of “is it enough?”
We’ve been given this gift of reconciliation, who am I to not take advantage of that now?