Confession

My parish offers Confession every Saturday from 3:00-3:45. I went a few months ago with my dad and that was really nice. I sat with my three kids and my brother (who is disabled) while my dad went and then we swapped. Well Saturday I ran to Walmart for a few items and on my way back to my parents house I realized it was 3:20. I would be passing church in all of two minutes. So I called my mom and asked if everyone was ok and could I stop in and go to Confession. She said of course! So I pulled into the long driveway that leads to the parking lot and got out of the car.

The sky was blue-grey. We were between storm clouds so it was windy and wet every where. Walking into the side door there were ushers waiting for the 4 o'clock Mass and also there to greet people as they came in for Confession. "Hi! How are you?" Asked one of the ushers as another parishioner sprinkled his soaked umbrella all over the other ushers head. Typical shenanigans!

I turned and went into the church. Without having my kids or anyone else with me I blessed myself and walked all the way up to the front row and knelt down. I haven't been able to do that in a very long time and it felt so nice being that close to Our Lord in the Tabernacle. I prayed for a few minutes and then went to stand in line. Everyone was quiet. There were teenagers, middle aged and wise people all sitting or kneeling quietly in prayer. More greetings came through the door to the Narthex as more people arrived for Mass. But the reverence could've been cut with a knife. All eyes were on the tabernacle. And there was joy. Peace reverberated through the walls. It began to rain and the soft rumble made it feel even more cozy and welcoming somehow. You could feel Christ there. It was soon my turn and despite my fleeting thought that the family outside of the confessional would hear everything that was said, it felt so comforting being in the confessional! Like a warm hug. I walked out and not wanting to disturb anyone by walking to the front of the church again I knelt and said my penance.

As I left, I reflected on the experience I had just been blessed with. In a matter of seconds I went back and forth between going to Confession and just driving by, as I had done so many times before. It was wet, I had things in the car from Walmart and did I really want to go to Confession? Well so what, it's wet? There are two packages of hamburger rolls and a bag of diapers. I don't think that qualifies. And did I really want to go to Confession? Yes. I did. I wanted to go hug Jesus. I wanted to go confess my wrong doings as Jesus has commanded us to do. I wanted my sins forgiven. And I wanted to hear those words of absolution.

It was raining as I walked out to the car. But I was still wrapped in that warm hug.

If you haven't been to Confession in a while, find time to go. Or listen to the Holy Spirit nudging you into your church parking lot.

St. Padre Pio pray for us!