“Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste” (Lk 1:39). Why? Because she was filled with joy. She had just experienced an incredible encounter with the angel Gabriel telling her that she was to bear the “holy, Son of God” (Lk 1:35). She also learned that her relative Elizabeth, who had been barren was six months pregnant. Who better to understand and appreciate what she had gone through than Elizabeth. When we hear good news we want to share it with someone, especially when we believe another will fully appreciate our experience.

Is there a time when you felt overjoyed about something that you felt like you were going to burst and you couldn’t wait to share your experience? Take a moment to stop reading and recall, or if you aren’t wired that way, read on to the end, and then when you get a moment sometime today, go ahead and remember something awesome! May the smile and glow that radiated from your eyes then return when you reexperience that moment of remembrance.

One such graced encounter I had was when I was in my early twenties and dealing with a heavy weight. I was living in Sharon, Connecticut at the time and had an opportunity to go to the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts to participate in a penance service. I walked up hesitantly to a kind looking, elderly, polish Marian priest. His name alludes me now, but not his face. He radiated invitation and mercy. After a few stammering words, I let loose and shared what I had been dealing with. When he offered absolution, I felt the burden physically lift, I felt almost like levitating. Then a surge of joy welled up in me that lasted for days.

Often, I do not have that emotional of an experience, in fact, there have been times I have not felt anything emotionally. The last two or three times I have gone to confession, I have felt a measure of peace and confidence. My goal in writing today and the last two reflections, if you haven’t noticed already, is to share with you there is a pearl of great price that is available in this sacrament! (I was in so much haste, that those who subscribe to receive my reflections via email, received two postings, as I accidently hit post instead of preview for my draft, so they got a double dose of yesterday’s message.)

Many of us are struggling with a lot, and sometimes we are not at our best, nor do we make our best decisions, we react instead of act, we get caught in the momentum of behavior that we know is not acceptable, but we continue to slide. The key is not to beat ourselves up and walk around feeling guilty. There are enough people who would be happy sign up to do that for us. Instead may we choose to practice a healthy sense of guilt, examining our conscience, knowing, and being able to admit when we have done something inappropriate or wrong.

That is the key to reconciliation, embracing the humility to admit our sin, to be contrite – sorry for what we have done, not upset or defensive because we got caught, and confess our sin, so to receive forgiveness and grace, to go and sin no more! For those who are non Catholic, follow the counsel of James: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed” (James 5:16). Then when we have experienced the joy of forgiveness, of reconciliation, may we be like Mary, and go in haste to share with others the wonderful gift we have received and invite them to do the same!

If you happen to be in the Jupiter area tomorrow, Wednesday, December 13, we will be having priests available at 9:00 am to hear private confessions and also two communal penance services at 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Both services will be held in the main sanctuary. St. Peter Catholic Church is located on 1701 Indian Creek Parkway, Jupiter, FL 33458. If you are reading this from afar, I am sure that you can access a parish near you this Advent. If you are not Catholic, you can still reach out to God and one another!

Photo: Pope Francis hearing confession, credit for the photo:

l’osservatore romano press pool

Link for today’s reading for Tuesday, December, 12, 2017:

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121217.cfm