A few weeks ago, I was privileged to experience a particularly hard-hitting homily. The thing about those homilies, bless them, is “hard-hitting” doesn’t always depend on the message, more on the receiver. Actually, you could probably apply that to most things in life…
Anyway, the priest of the day – let’s call him “papa du jour” (a bit of a mingling of languages and terms there, but it just sounds so kewl) – was talking about an incident where he’d done something wrong and had been called on it. “But I was completed justified in my actions,” was Papa du Jour’s first reaction. “It’s the other bloke who was getting antsy over nothing.”
Given my huge amount of respect for Papa du Jour, I had no doubt that he was right at the time – in fact I nearly stood up and yelled “You go Papa du Jour!” but before I could mortify myself (and him), he paused, looked at the congregation and told us that it wasn’t long before he realised he could have handled the situation better; from the beginning right through to his reaction when it all came to a head.
This is something I struggle with constantly. I’ll place some of the blame on society (mainly because it can’t answer back)… It’s very good at telling us we should do what makes us happy; we should do what WE want to, and forget the consequences.
The problem is, I know that’s not right. I know you can’t live a life with blinders on, doing what you want because you’re “entitled to”. I know it’s not about the easiest and nicest option. But knowing and doing are two so very different things.
I am FABULOUS at justifying everything I do (it helps ease that old-fashioned Catholic guilt)! If someone takes offence at what I say, it’s their problem for not being able to handle my “honesty”. If someone takes exception to the way I do things, it’s because they’re “behind the times” and need to adjust.
I think Papa du Jour’s point (like I said, a lot of the message is about the receiver…) was that being able to ease the guilt may work for now, but God sees what you do and how you react. He knows – and deep down you know too.
Listening to that “deep down”, listening to God, is so much harder, isn’t it? Is that cliche Catholic guilt such a cliche after all…
Dear Captain,
What a great post, I really enjoyed it.
It’s amazing really how the God always invites to become better persons by offering us forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
I was talking to a well known protestant psychiatrist once and she told me that her Catholic patients have the least problems with guilt because the Church offers them the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and through repentance, absolution and penance they are able to turn their sin and guilt into a place for God’s mercy and grace to do something awesome in their lives.
It’s funny really; when you think that term “Catholic guilt”, which those who like to think they know all about us Mickey Dooleys life to bandy around all the time, because thanks to the Sacrament of Reconciliation we are the ones carrying all the guilt!!!
The Dumb Ox
Sorry, that second line should read “how God” not “how the God”!!!
The Ox
Let me try that again – there are several mistakes in my first post so please ignore it and read this one that has been proofed instead!!!!
Dear Captain,
What a great post, I really enjoyed it.
It’s amazing really how God always invites us to become better persons by convicting of us o our sin and then offering us forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
I was talking to a well known protestant psychiatrist once and she told me that her Catholic patients have the least problems with guilt because the Church offers them the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and through repentance, absolution and penance they are able to turn their sin and guilt into a place for God’s mercy and grace to do something awesome in their lives.
It’s funny really; when you think about that term “Catholic guilt”, which those who like to think they know all about us Mickey Dooleys love to bandy around all the time. You see, thanks to the Sacrament of Reconciliation we aren’t the ones who have to carry all our guilt around with us!!!
The Dumb Ox
Great post Captain!
nice post
sin causes us to be in anguish it is this anguish we can meet christ, in the depths of our suffering christ can bring us out.