Advent time of reconciliation.

Before the holidays,very woman schedules time for central cleaning of the flat: wipe off the dust, clean the windows, spruce it up, organize… It is, for many women, an inherent and yet so commonplace matter. However, not only for women but all of us who enjoy reason and free will, the Advent season should be used above all for inner cleansing. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is therefore not a secondary matter for the Christian believer.

In the Gospel of Matthew, he tells of how whole crowds came to Jesus… and Jesus healed them. It is said that in a clean dwelling, there is also healthy life. Especially those who have damp, wet, or not bright, well-ventilated flats know this. Similarly, we can also speak of the soul. Often we have brought this on ourselves, and – our soul bears the undesirable consequences. We are sick. There is sin in our souls. But Jesus invites us to Himself. We didn’t read in the Gospel that he begged anyone, asked anyone to come to him. The crowd came willingly, and they came because they realized that Jesus could help them, give them what they could not get, buy, and procure elsewhere. Entire crowds came to Jesus. They did not come out of curiosity, out of longing, but they desired that Jesus would heal them. Jesus laid his hands on them; others at least touched the hem of his garment so that their request would be granted.

Jesus listens to everyone. We have no report in the Gospels that he didn’t listen to anyone, though some struggled a lot to do so. The Canaanite woman pleaded much for her daughter. Jesus heard her because of her strong faith, even though she was a Gentile, and granted her wish. Indeed, there were more unbelievers among those present. Matthew tells of the reaction of many who saw that the dumb speak, the disabled are made whole, the lame walk, and the blind see, were amazed and glorified God for all things. Not a few, indeed, in their flesh, though they had previously come in disbelief, returned in health, not only physically but spiritually as well. For in more than one case, Jesus said: “Go, thy faith hath made thee whole!” (Mk 10:52). But we know that he dismissed some sick, saying, “… but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer a sacrifice for your cleansing….” (Mk 1,44). However, to the sinners, he said: “Go and sin no more!” (Jn. 8:11). This means that Jesus did not heal only sick bodies, though there were more of them than those He healed in spirit. Today, the tables have turned. God has given men reason, and therefore He has chosen some to be physicians of human bodies. These restore health. But even here, we often sigh: the physician heals, the Lord God heals!

The Lord Jesus is also present in the sacrament of the priesthood, where He manifests His spiritual power. The sacramental absolution, the priest’s forgiveness to his brothers and sisters, not in his name but as the representative of Jesus on earth, cannot be mediated by himself. Still, he needs another priest to grant him this grace. Whoever can appreciate this small act given by Jesus Christ to the Church, which we call the Sacrament of Reconciliation, does not count the minutes spent in preparation for this moment of forgiveness of sins. We have marvelled many times that God is so good to us. Those who have not understood this will say this too: “You are forgiven and can sin again.” These are words insulting to God, dishonouring this great gift. These are the words of an ignorant man, words full of dislike. We are weak. We know that we will not last long without some weakness, some mistake or error, without more strength. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, every intention that we call good must have the resolution that we will guard against sin, that we will forsake the near occasion of sin, that we will ask for help to persevere in good.

We know that those whom Jesus healed became sick again after a time and had to die. We must realize that frequent reception of this sacrament will strengthen us so that we will more easily persevere in good. Our sound will must prevail. Let us do all we can to perform this sacrament well. Let us use the time to prepare for it and, after receiving the sacrament, let us step out with the determination to remain faithful to Jesus, and in that state, let us live the feasts for which we are preparing. What we have failed to do so far, let us try this year.

Yes, order and cleanliness in our homes are needed. But this is our temporary home. We know we are called to eternity, so let us purify our lives in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.