Matthew Kelly, in his book Rediscover Catholicism, urges us to take an honest inventory of our sins and those mistakes that we make in life.
He likens our souls to our car. When we first purchase that car, we are so proud of it. We are meticulous about keeping it clean. Maybe we don’t let anyone eat food or drink a beverage in it. We vacuum it almost religiously and make sure that it is always clean on the outside. At least, at first. But then, life gets busy, and we start to slip in our desire to be so diligent with this new car. We justify eating in it, because we either don’t have enough time, or we are in a hurry from one appointment to the next. We collect a lot of things, throw them on the passenger seat or in the back, or fill up the trunk, and never get around to putting those items where they belong. Stray food wrappers end up on the floor. Floor mats get dirty with gravel or grass or those little stones that seem to be everywhere. The dash board is dusty. The windows need a good cleaning. After a while we’ve lost that sensitivity to maintaining our new car, and are far from keeping it in pristine condition both inside and out.
Our souls are much like our car, but of course, much more important. If we don’t periodically clean out our interior, we become indifferent and desensitized to our wrongdoings. Maybe we begin to justify our actions, or worse, convince ourselves that it is not a big deal. Little by little, we slip deeper down the slope. We prefer the path of least resistance instead of living and modeling our Christian beliefs and values. We have cut ourselves off from God.
But the beautiful thing is that God is always there, eagerly and patiently awaiting our return. Lent is prime time for us to bring ourselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, not only to cleanse us of our sins, but to prepare our hearts to celebrate the most important days of our liturgical year during the Paschal Triduum and Easter.
CONFESSIONS are available a number of times and locations during these last 2 weeks of Lent. Please consider any of the following:
ON THE DEANERY LEVEL, a number of priests will be available for individual confessions:
SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021
GOOD SHEPHERD, CAMP HILL, 2 – 3 PM
SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 (PALM SUNDAY)
SAINT THERESA, NEW CUMBERLAND, 3 – 4 PM
HERE AT OUR PARISH
SATURDAYS, MARCH 20 AND 27
2:30 – 3:30 PM IN THE PARISH LIFE AND EDUCATION CENTER
Also, on March 20 and 27, we will offer Confessions at 5 PM in the PLEC.
For those with mobility issues and for our elderly parishioners, one priest will offer these Confessions immediately after the 4 PM Mass in the Church and, when finished, will proceed to the PLEC to offer Confessions to those still waiting in line.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31 AT 9:30 AM IN THE FRONT ALCOVES OF THE CHURCH for the elderly and those with mobility issues. We will also offer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick at the end of your individual Confession if you desire that Sacrament.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO CONFESSIONS IN OUR PARISH