Gen X: Act of Contrition

O My God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you.
And I detest all my sins because of your just punishment.
But most of all because I offend you, My God, who are all good and deserving of all my love
I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasion of sin.    Amen.

All Christian religions profess contrition – an apology – to God for our sins. A lot of Christian religions use a more personal approach when approaching God with their sins and apologizing to Him within context of a normal conversation that one would have with Him.

Catholics recite what’s call the Act of Contrition. This prayer has changed over the years, more recently being changed to simpler words making it easier people to recite, remember, and understand. I was taught the old school way – with the prayer above, but there are several versions all stating the same thing: I am sorry for my sins and I deserve any punishment you may give to me.

An interesting fact about the Act of Contrition, is that it is not part of the Roman Missal itself. Most priests these days don’t require you to say a specific Act of Contrition (as pre Vatican II), and many encourage one to make contrition to God in their own words.

Use of the Act of Contrition is typical during the Sacrament of Reconciliation - where one goes to confess their sins to God. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is not a man-made one. Jesus stated, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:16

Jesus instructed us to tell our sins to one another. That is how the Sacrament of Reconciliation came to be. God works through us all. He gives us gifts and talents that we are to use to glorify Him. It’s a priests “job” to be the hands and feet of Jesus – to represent holiness, humility and faithfulness (though they are most certainly human and do in fact stumble themselves!)

During the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the priest, through the POWER OF GOD, absolves one from their sins. It is not the priest who is doing the forgiving or the priest who has the power to accept ones forgiveness – it is God and God alone. The priest is there as God’s visual representation – to be His hands and voice to the penitent.

Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34

This is what I think…

The Catholic church has been bashed numerous times for her “stubbornness” and “lack of willingness to conform to societal demands”. There are many “hot topics” that circulate around the church: Abortion, Gay Marriage, Death Penalty – just to name a few.

The Church puts out her stance, and as the Catholic body of Christ we are to abide by those rules.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there who disagree and have no problem going against what the Church teaches. On the flip side, there are some extreme die-hard Catholics who are go overboard with “sin bashing” and do not take into effect the humanity of the person in question.

I’ve always been one to follow the rules – all rules – that are put before me. For the most part, I’ve maintained that mentality all through life. Don’t get me wrong, I’m certainly not perfect and I do my share of breaking the rules – like talking on my cell phone while driving [even though I've received a ticket for it already] and speeding [which is a societal norm these days] – daily. Sometimes though, I think that people need to be people, and realize that everyone has feelings and opinions that are valid.

I’m sure this post is going to cause a lot of turmoil, but hear me out. I’m going to state, again, that the following is my opinion and my feelings ONLY. Unless specified, this is not the view of the Catholic church as a whole.

Now, lets talk about homosexuals.

I think that maybe because I’ve been surrounded my homosexuals for most of my life, that I don’t find it to be a “big deal” and I can see those who do not have loved ones who are homosexual can get upset. Let me clarify “big deal” – I have an uncle, an aunt and two cousins who are homosexual. One of my cousins is married, and I couldn’t imagine her wife not being a part of my family. Being Catholic, all of the above mentioned people are aware of the stance that the Church has. They know that we don’t approve of their marriage because it goes against Church teaching. They also know, that we love them – for who they are and will continue to all the days of our lives.

Let me clarify a misconception: the Catholic Church is NOT anti-gay. We do NOT hate gays nor do we push them out of the Church. THAT is church teaching. 100%. What the Catholic Church does NOT approve of, is the marriage between two same-sex couples. THAT is Church teaching as well. Like I said earlier, there are always going to be those who are going to push the envelope and push people away. THAT is HUMANITY not the Church. It is possible to be homosexual and still be a part of the Church – and even a part of  clergy and religious who chose to remain celibate as they have an understanding of the sanctity of marriage and family  [and don't EVEN go there with the whole pedophile thing because THAT is not a same-sex attraction - its human stupidity - which we see all the time out of the Church as well]. The Church embraces all. The Church also discourages sinning. It doesn’t matter what sex you’re attracted to, sex outside of marriage is a SIN – again, Church teaching.

There is a difference between condoning a relationship and accepting the individuals – at least in my eyes. We are ALL sinners and there is no sin that is greater than the other. It’s important to remember that when we want to “cast the first stone” or point out another’s’ sin. Yes, we are to be held accountable to one another, but the one we really  need to be accountable to is God. I am not here to judge another and to shun them from my life – and maybe that is a character flaw on my part – but it’s not something that I’m going to change.

Jesus loves everyone. He dined with the worst of sinners. His apostles who He put in charge of leading His church, denied Him and left Him “for dead”. Jesus knows we are not perfect, and He doesn’t expect us to be. We are to strive for perfection, but we will always fall short – no matter who you are.

Let us remember that we are no better off than that of our neighbor. No sin is greater than another. And Jesus’ first command was to “love one another, as I have loved you”. Jesus loves ALL His brothers and sisters. God loves ALL His children. We are all created by God – and He doesn’t love any of us more or less than another.

Nothing changes

I’m such a terrible Christian.

Granted, I know of people who profess to be Christians and act much worse than I, but I feel as though I’m always falling short. I say I’m going to spend more time in the word and with God, but then it doesn’t happen. I say I’m going to stop doing that terrible sin that I keep committing over and over again, but I keep giving into the desires of my flesh.

I’m a wretched sinner.

And I’ve lost my zeal…my zest and passion that I’ve once had for Christ. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still in love with Him, but I feel as though I’ve hit a plateau…full of lack of motivation and drive and desire to spend more time with Him.

Part of me in the back of my head says “I’ll be living a life serving and praying on a much deeper level for the rest of my life…don’t I get to the chance to just enjoy life now as it is?”…such the wrong attitude to have.

I know that God wants those who are most wretched. Those who are most wretched can glorify Him in a more greater capacity than those who are close to perfect. It boggles my mind though, why He’d chose me.

Then again, I guess He chose me even before I was born…

Are you ready?

December 21, 2012…the proposed day of the end of the world.

Are you ready? Do you believe that we are nearing the end? Do you believe that He is coming?

I do.

I don’t however, believe that December 21, 2012 will be the day. (Though I do have a grand time boosting that thought to other paranoid people!)

We’ve been told that He is going to return…but we know not the day nor the hour. The time could be today…tomorrow…next year…ten years from now…we just don’t know.

Are you ready?

Are you ready to stand before the throne of God? Are you ready to meet your maker face to face?

I am. Mentally that is. Spiritually, I will never be ready. As previously posted in my last post, we are all sinners. We all have sins to atone for…sins for which we need forgiveness from. My guess is that in our humanness, we will continue to sin up to the day we die. What are you doing though, to ready your soul…to ready yourself for heaven?

Do you know if you’re going to heaven? No one does.

Are you living according to His word?

Do you have sins in which you need to be forgiven…by God or by others?

Is your heart free from ill thoughts?

I know mine isn’t…

Lord, help us to grow closer to you. In our growth, help us to learn to live like you’ve commanded…to love like you love…to be like you.

I’m right, you’re wrong

Today I come with a heavy heart. I’m torn over debates about things that are near to my heart. I’m torn over the name calling, the bullying, the teasing and tormenting. I’m in pain seeing those I love being torn apart by closed eyes.

Basically I’m tired of the “I’m right, you’re wrong” attitude.

It seems to be surrounding me lately. Friends in religious debates. Stories all over the news about people bullying others because they are different. People finding the need to end their lives because of the sheer torment they are in. “Christians” who are in constant battle with one another complete with name calling and an unwillingness for acceptance.

When does enough become enough? When does the fighting stop? I’m sure it’s not anytime soon as the enemy is loving all this chaos. I have a few things to say about certain topics, and I ask that you respect my thoughts, feelings, and words as this is my blog in which I’m free to write such.

1. Religious intolerance
I have several friends, of various religious affiliations.  It seems that all we seem to do lately is banter back and forth about which religion is the “right” religion, and in the process bash the others’ beliefs. In one circle of friends, we became friends due to our commonality in the fact that we are all Christian. I have recently began to see a divide among our once tolerated-by-others’ religions. Our commonality seems to be a lessening factor in our friendship and because of the destruction of “I’m right,  you’re wrong” attitude, friendships seem to be at their breaking point. What ever happened to loving one another as Christ loved? What about standing united as sons/daughters of God? It breaks my heart to see this divide growing larger and larger…with no willingness to learn more about another persons beliefs…but quick to bash and name call.

(And just for the record, I am guilty of this to a certain extent…I’m  not claiming to be perfect)

2. Bullying due to ignorance
If you live in the United States, chances are you’ve heard of the recent death of a Rutgers freshmen who was secretly video taped by his roommate caught in an act of homosexuality. The bullying resulted in him jumping off a bridge to his death. One would question the motive behind the roommate who video taped this young man. Not only was it uncalled for; breaking every rule of privacy that there is, but it was full of ignorance. Sadly, a lot of Christians are up in arms over this. As a Christian, I believe that the act of homosexuality is a sin. Notice I said the ACT…not the actual person. As a Christian, one should have that same belief. It is unbiblical and against the sanctity of marriage. I’ve heard of some Christians going as far as calling other Christians hypocrites and closed-minded and heartless.

The fact that this young man felt the need to end his life due to the stupidity and homophobic nature of his roommate is tragic. Not only is it tragic in the stance of a life lost, but tragic to see that this is happening. The evil in this world has penetrated so deeply that people don’t know how to handle themselves anymore. Society says it’s completely normal to act on your “feelings” towards members of the same sex. There is almost a sense of awe and wonder to the “homosexual revolution”. Media places a glamorous lifestyle attached to homosexuality and it should be accepted in the world as completely normal.

I’m sorry, it is not. The bible clearly states:

“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; such a thing is an abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22)

An abomination. A sin. The sin is the act of lying with another member of the same sex. This does NOT mean that one who is attracted to the same sex is an immediate sinner. This does NOT mean that one who is attracted to the same sex should be condemned and bullied.
This does NOT mean that one who is attracted to the same sex should not be loved as you and I are loved by God.
This does NOT mean that one who is attracted to the same sex should be treated any differently than you or I.

A sin is a sin. Whether you are an adulterer, a thief, a liar…a sin is a sin. And we ALL sin.

When are we going to accept one another for who we are?

When are we going to get over the labels that we place on ourselves?

When are we going to love one another as HE loves us?

It’s time we get over this “I’m right, you’re wrong” attitude, and learn to love one another and accept one another for who we are. After all, we are all God’s children…even if you chose to acknowledge that yourself.

Let your actions speak louder

I have recently encountered some disappointment. Disappointment in myself and in my youth group kids. Now I know that no one is perfect. I know we all stumble and fall and I know that God is right there to help us get back up on the right path.  That doesn’t take away from the disappointment one feels when the stumbling occurs.

Call me naive, but I always thought that as a youth minister I was doing a decent job of teaching God’s word and His way. We have good kids who love each other (for the most part) and who usually, don’t give into the typical peer pressures that society places on them.

This weekend, I learned otherwise.

I learned that even though I thought my kids were “perfect”, that they aren’t.

I learned that when you gathered a group of really good kids, and mix them with a group of not so good kids, evil won.

I learned that even I, as an adult, was uncomfortable with some of the things that were going on and can only imagine how some of the kids felt who chose to partake in the events to just fit in.

I also learned, that my mentors for my youth group, are not where they need to be, and definitely did NOT set an example for their younger counterparts.

And though I had to go through all this, I also learned that God is using me in ways I never even saw coming. After discussing said events with various church members, it was concluded that I was and am, in a very unique situation. I now get to take this moment (where later I did find out that some of my “kids” were uncomfortable…as well as one of my young adults…guess that means that I have taught them something right after all…) and use it as a teaching moment. God has been giving me different ideas of how to bring this all to glorify Him and to teach them, again, how to live as an example, and not in the ways of this world.

It’s so easy for us to get trapped in the deceits of this world. Everything that society teaches is all about self-gratification and not about glorifying God. How foolish it is for us to think that certain people might be “exempt” from that falling into sin, because they “lead a good, Christian life”. We all strive to be examples for others…to portray to others that we are “perfect” and that we “don’t sin”, but that can’t be farther from the truth. Because we were not designed to BE perfection. The only human that ever was designed to be perfect was Christ Himself. We can STRIVE to be LIKE Him, but we will fall. We will be tempted. We will make mistakes.

And it’s okay. Because in our suffering, in our brokenness, in the midst of our sinful nature, that is when God picks us back up, dusts us off, and sends us on our way. And it is then, that we can be a better witness to others, about the love of God. Of how God, can choose to love a sinner like me, and like you. Of how God, can forgive us, and love us unconditionally…because He is our Savior.

Let your actions speak louder than your words. Don’t preach perfection in yourself, when you have dirt on your soul. We all need to be a witness to others…and being a witness to others doesn’t mean being perfect. It means acknowledging that you aren’t and you need Christ…

He’s watching you!

“He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!”

This popular Christmas song refers to the secular Santa Claus, but how true is it of Jesus? Regardless of your views on the whole “Santa” craze and this incredibly threatening song, that one line used out of context, can be used for good.

Jesus sees all. He knows what you’re doing, when you’re doing it. He knows what you are GOING to do before you even decide to do it.

“The general Catholic perspective is that because God created everything, nothing is outside God’s jurisdiction and that includes your every thought, word, and deed – morning, noon and night, 24/7″                                        -Catholicism for Dummies

To some, that can be intimidating. To others, it’s a mere reminder. I know often times I “forget” that He is always present…listening to what I’m saying, watching what I’m doing, hearing what I’m thinking. He’s there when I brush my teeth, get dressed, sleep and take a shower. He sees all. He also sees when I deliberately break His commandments…on an almost daily occurrence.

Thankfully, God is a very forgiving Father. Thankfully, my sins were already paid in full when Jesus died on the cross for me. Thankfully, I am loved by a God who loves unconditionally.

Lord, help me to avoid all instances of sin. Create in me a clean heart. Forgive me of all my wrong doings and failures. Thank you for being with me through the good and the bad…and for loving me right where I’m at.

Strive to be examples of Holiness

Today’s Saint of the day: St. Bartholomew
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=390

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

I came across this passage from a blog that I follow…and it totally hit home. I’m going to break it apart, and shed my thoughts upon this verse.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
A great cloud of witnesses. I’m sure we all know people who have helped us along our faith journey. People who are in every sense of the word, every day witnesses to Christ and His love, and His example. The more we surround ourselves with people like that, the deeper our relationship with God will grow.
We all need mentors in our lives…people that we look up to…people to help lead us. There have been people who have gone before us who fit that mold as well as people who are still here lifting us closer to our Heavenly goal. I have two people who, in my opinion, served the Church, the world, and God with all that they could: Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Pope John Paul II. If you don’t know much about their great works, I’d invite you to learn more about them. They were human, as you and I were, and had their faults, but they left an incredible mark on the hearts of so many people, and have left a legacy of holiness.

let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles
Sin. It’s everywhere. No matter who you are, how devout you are towards God, how holy you lead others to believe, we all sin. It’s our human nature, passed down from generation to generation from the very beginning of time. Our goal though, is to void ourselves of sin…to avoid any sins that we may be tempted to commit. It’s much easier said than done, but it’s what we are called to do.
In Catholicism, we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation. During Reconciliation (also known as Penance), we confess our sins to the priest, who is the visible Christ. The priest is there as a physical representation of Christ. Christ is the only one who can forgive us our sins…and is done so through a process called absolution. (For more information on the process, and history behind the Sacrament of Reconciliation, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11618c.htm) Once our sins are confessed, the stains on our soul are wiped clean. We are given a Penance to do (some sort of prayer to recite or an action to perform), and our confession is done. With our humanness though, it doesn’t take very long for our soul to be dirtied up again…walking out of the confessional thinking un-Christlike things about the priest or another person, and BAM…you are no longer clean.
It’s very easy to get entangled in sin. It’s important to keep yourself surrounded by those who hold similar values and faith, and who will hold you accountable for your actions and faults.

and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us
Perseverance. To persevere is to keep on going…not to give up or give in. I think that’s important on any faith journey. Our eye needs to be on the prize…on the goal…and that is an eternal happiness with our Lord. Only God can declare who is worthy enough to enter the gates of heaven. Are you worthy? How do you know you’re getting into heaven?

Let us all strive to be examples of holiness…to one another, and especially to ourselves.