In our gospel during this second
SUNDAY of ADVENT, John the Baptist made this invitation to all of us:
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand… Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”
John the Baptist engages us in a baptism of repentance and forgiveness of sins. Speaking of the forgiveness of sins, read this dramatic story:
There was a doctor who was diagnosed with a prostate cancer. He went for an intensive treatment, but the cancer became worst. He started to be depressed. But a miracle happened in his life. He credited this miracle to his brother, also a doctor, who not only referred him to several experts in prostate cancer, but more importantly, advising him to go to confession. First, he did not believe such a suggestion, especially coming from a doctor. But the brother, a devoted Catholic, told him, “There comes a time when a confession is the best prescription a doctor can give. Absolution might be the best solution.” Humbled by the illness, he found himself confessing to a priest. And while confessing, he was crying.
After confession, healing began in his life, until he was completely healed. He said, “Humility, prayer, and trust in God’s mercy are effective antidotes to the toxic elements that destroy life. In the past, I take my patients’ pain for granted. Now, I look at the patient’s physical pain, and I see someone who seeks not only healing, but also compassion. The patient needs my prayer, and not only medicine.”
The
Sacrament of Reconciliation (SR) is a sacred place where healing of the inner pain of a person caused by sin can really take place. The doctor was healed, not only by medicine but also by his faith and trust in God.
During this
ADVENT SEASON, in order to receive the healing grace from our God of mercy, please come to the
Communal Reconciliation Service in our parish on
December 13, 2016, at 7:00 p.m.; or you can come to the parish’s regular schedule of the
SR after the morning Mass on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and on Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. This is one of the many grace-filled ways for us to prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus in our lives.
Let your hearts be touched once again by the healing grace of God throughout
ADVENT via the
SR. Remember,
“Absolution might be the best solution!”
For faith sharing, light the second candle of ADVENT and reflect on the following questions:
“Who are the people in your life that you need and want to be reconciled with? What is the most difficult pain you want to be healed from? And why?
“Repent… the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” God bless you all!
Fr. Romy, MS