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VESTA SIPLE GUEST COLUMNIST
Tuesday, February 01, 2000 Page: 7
If there is a sacrament we need today it is reconciliation. We live in a time
when sin threatens to overtake the world with violence and lack of
forgiveness, and this sacrament has the power to deeply transform us. It is a
healing sacrament that brings peace and can be a visible, tangible sign of
God’s love. The sacrament of reconciliation may have changed considerably
since most adults first received it as a child, but some things remain
constant. One constant is that the sacrament of reconciliation restores that
which was broken – our relationship with self, with God, with each other and
even with creation. Another constant is that regardless of the shape
children’s preparation and celebration takes, their primary lessons about
forgiveness and love take place in the home. The more children are able to
make the connection between their everyday life and the sacrament of
reconciliation, the more meaningful it will be for them throughout their
lives. That is why St. Jude parish makes the sacraments a family affair.
Formal religion classes only support what the children learn at home. Because
parents often feel unprepared to share faith with their children, parent
meetings are held that affirm for them that loving and caring for their
children is the first step in sharing faith. The meetings provide
opportunities for parents to meet with each other for updates on the
developmental needs of their children as well as their own theological needs
in the area of sacraments. I believe our understanding of the sacrament of
reconciliation is much more balanced and mature than it was in the past. I
grew up in a time when many people would approach the sacrament as a moment to
dread rather than a holy moment. Today the children and their families have a
more positive attitude toward the sacrament of reconciliation. Seeing the
precious faces of the children as they talked to the priest recently filled my
heart with love. It was like looking into the face of God. Hopefully this
positive attitude will remain with them throughout their lives. Because all
of us are affected by sin, we cannot think of it as only an individual act.
The most common effect of sin is on our relationships. Sin is like throwing a
stone into a pond. There is the initial effect, then the ripple effect.
Therefore, we not only need to acknowledge our own sinfulness and ask for
forgiveness, but sometimes we also need to do whatever we can to repair the
damage our sin has done. The opportunity for reconciliation is offered
individually and at a communal service with individual reconciliation.
Communal reconciliation services are an opportunity to gather together and
acknowledge to one another our need for forgiveness. They are a time to share
together hope, love and the unconditional grace of the sacrament. Vesta Siple
is the director of faith formation for St. Jude’s Church.