The power of reconciliation is immense and should never be discounted. The power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the grace received, the healing given saves lives and gives life to those who receive this blessing.
Next week, we, the people of the United States of America, will once more participate in the blessing of the peaceful transition of leadership within our Federal Government as a new president is sworn into office. With this I would offer you a few words of blessing and peace during this time because we all recognized the contentious and sometimes vitriolic tenor of the campaign and the continued ill-will that has followed the election. We can agree and disagree, be happy or forlorn, jubilant or disgusted but we are all going to be here to step forward seeking the presence of God in our daily actions and the lives and actions of those around us.
In his farewell address to the country, our current President, Mr. Obama, gave us (at least) one very important piece of advice, we must listen and share our stories with one another. (my paraphrasing) I whole heartedly support and endorse this idea.
In Matthew Kelly’s Resisting Happiness he dedicates an entire chapter (Chapter 20) to the necessity of listening to enter into a place of happiness/joy/peace. It is the lesson learned over and over again and important because it is part of reconciliation, both sacramental and in relationship. God listens to us. He truly does and he invites us to listen to Him in prayer and in conversation with one another.
And it is true, it’s not easy. This is the reality of reconciliation and community. It is part of family life as well as the greater community, whether be Church and faith or civic and government, listening and reconciliation is hard but always fruitful.
And example in my spiritual life is my enjoyment in the spiritual writings of Fr. Richard Rohr OFM. I am challenged and find much fruit in both reading and listening to him about living the spiritual life. I also find myself disagreeing, often vehemently with him on some issues of faith and Church. I even have friends, when I bring up his name, who ask why I even take time in prayer and study, listing and reading his works about whom they believe (as I do at times) to be outside the bounds of where we should be…and yet I do read and listen. It’s not because I agree always but because it challenges me to understand, clarify and open my ears to the voices of others in my life.
This is what happens in sacramental reconciliation, we listen to understand, clarify and open our ears to hear God’s voice. It is the challenge I face over and over again as a priest. It is especially challenging with young people (old as well) when they come with hearts ready to be filled and walk away having received the well worn answer, an answer that may be true, doctrinal and holy, but also an answer that is not speaking to the heart broken and in need of healing, a heart desiring to be heard and to be drawn closer and closer to the saving light of Jesus Christ.
This is also our call to a relationship of reconciliation…to seek and discover the heart of the other, the heart of the beloved…the heart of God living within each of us. Fr. Rohr offers us this quote reminding us, we should give thanks for those who we disagree with because in them we discover who we are as beloved sons and daughters of the living and true God.
God bless
Fr. Mark
“I doubt whether a single cultural myth or national story is now possible. That is frightening as we experience the fractured results while groups divide, encircle, and defend. … The rifts and chasms are irreparable. Many are unable to offer one another basic respect, engage in civic dialogue, or honor what God is apparently patient with: the human struggle. … But I am still advised by Thomas Aquinas who said, “We must love them both: those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in search for their truth and both have helped us in finding our own.”” (p 44) From What the Mystics Know by Fr. Richard Rohr OFM