Imagine what Lazarus is experiencing, brought back to life by Jesus from four days in the tomb. What overflowing gratitude must have filled his whole being. Now, with Jesus in their home in Bethany, what is he thinking as he sees how the presence of Jesus fill not only his heart, but Mary’s heart, filled with joy and gratitude for restoring her brother to life, as well as restoring her soul to grace.
Mary pours out her joy and love symbolized in the costly aromatic nard she uses to anoint Jesus’ feet. Its perfume fills the entire house with sweet smells of God’s love and mercy.
On March 25th, with the world watching and waiting for Pope Francis to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Holy Father delivered a poignant and surprising homily during a penance service at the Vatican, on the Sacrament of Reconciliation and God's desire to shower us with his endless mercy.
It was a powerful reminder that God is alive and active in our lives and desires us to encounter Him. "All too often, we think that confession is about going to God with dejected looks," Pope Francis says, and continues:
Yet it is not so much that we go to the Lord, but that He comes to us to fill us with His grace, to fill us with His joy. Our confession gives the Father the joy of raising us up once more. It is not so much about our sins as about His forgiveness. Our sins are present, but the forgiveness of God is always at the heart of our confession. Think about it: if our sins were at the heart of the sacrament, almost everything would depend on us, on our repentance, our efforts, our resolves. Far from it. The sacrament is about God, who liberates us and puts us back on our feet. Let us recognize once more the primacy of grace and ask for the gift to realize that reconciliation is not primarily our drawing near to God, but His embrace that enfolds, astonishes, and overwhelms us.
The Lord enters our home as He did that of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. He brings us unexpected amazement and joy -- the joy of forgiveness. Let us first look at things from God's perspective, and then we will rediscover our love for confession.
All spiritual renewal starts with God's forgiveness.
May we not neglect reconciliation, but rediscover it as the sacrament of joy.
Yes, the sacrament of joy for our shame for our sins becomes the occasion for an experience of the warm embrace of the Father, the gentle strength of Jesus who heals us, and the maternal tenderness of the Holy Spirit that is the heart of confession.
If you want to experience the sweet perfume of God’s mercy and love in your home, bring the whole family to the sacrament of joy, the sacrament of confession this week.
Amen.
Father Willy's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
Father Wilfred J. Raymond, C.S.C. (Father Willy), a native of Old Town, Maine, is the eighth of 12 children. He joined the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1964 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1971. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Stonehill College in 1967 and a master’s in Theology from the University of Notre Dame in 1971. He served in ministry at Stonehill College (1979-1992), Holy Cross leadership (1994-2000), National Director of Family Theater Productions, Hollywood (2000-2014), and President of Holy Cross Family Ministries (2014-2022). In addition to English, he is conversant in French and Spanish. He remains a diehard fan of the Boston Red Sox, even though he has served as Chaplain for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
