CONFESSION IS HEALING FOR THE SOUL

Just as it is necessary to expose serious wounds of the body to a physician in order to be healed, it is also necessary to open our hearts and expose our wounds to someone we trust. Scripture advises us to confess our sins to one another, not just to God. Why isn’t it enough to simply confess my sins to God or to myself? Why do I need to confess to another person? Freedom and healing come from being delivered from fear, guilt, shame, anger, and anxiety. These are the feelings that result from sin; ours or the sins of others against us. Simply confessing our sins to God or to ourselves cannot free us from these feelings—which often lead to actions (sin). The moment we try to let go of these feelings, the accuser stands ready to remind us of our sins; to judge us and to condemn us. The feelings remain hidden within us, along with the remembrance of our sins. We are not absolved. As long as we are too ashamed to admit any bad action, utterance, or intentional bad thought to another person, we are still bound by them. We can repress these sins for a while, but they are still there, deep within our heart, to remind us of our shame and condemnation.

Verbally confessing our sins to another person is always freeing, but it does not always prevent the accuser from returning to torment us by opening the wound of shame and condemnation. Only the absolution that comes from God can set us free; the words of forgiveness. We need faith to believe that God forgives us; that he loves us so much that there is nothing we could say, do, or think that could ever stop him from loving us or wanting our freedom and happiness. The accuser has no power over God: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31). It is also necessary for us to forgive those who have wounded us. We can't be forgiven unless we forgive others, as well.

In the Sacrament of Confession, the priest has been given authority by Jesus to absolve us in his Name. The priest confirms the voice and word of God. Our faith is weak, and we usually need to hear the words of forgiveness with our ears. All those who were forgiven and healed by Jesus needed him to speak the words before they were healed and forgiven. Confession is the Sacrament of healing, as well as forgiveness. Those who are not Catholic, or do not have access to the Sacrament, can confess to their pastor or a trusted friend, but it takes great faith on their part to believe they are healed and forgiven.

We should examine ourselves, regularly. Is there any thought, word, or deed that we have done that we would be too ashamed to tell another person; too ashamed to have anyone know? We need to confess it to be set free. What causes us to feel shame? What causes us guilt? Who are we unable to forgive? What or who makes us angry or anxious? What or who do we hate? What or who are we afraid of? What makes us feel unworthy to be loved by God or anyone else? What makes us feel condemned? What makes us feel that we do not deserve to be happy? To live? To be forgiven? To be loved? These are the questions we need to ask ourselves.

Shame, guilt, fear, anxiety, and anger are neither moral or immoral; good or bad. They are neutral feelings. Yet, they can reveal to us our sins and lead us to good or evil actions. They lead to evil when they lead to sinful acts; or when our enemy, the accuser, uses them to condemn us and we believe him. They lead to good when we confess them, and God empowers us to change our behavior and do good; when He sets us free with the truth and forgiveness. Children are often victims of shame, guilt, fear, anxiety, and anger, without reason. The accuser uses others to shame them or to make them fearful. When they confess to a mature and wise adult, they are set free. The adult reveals the truth to them and affirms them. They do not need absolution or forgiveness. They just need the truth and love to set them free. These neutral feelings can be a great gift when they lead us to God; to truth and holiness. They purify our conscience and we are at peace.

Years ago, a common saying from parents and adults was: “Have you no shame?” Shame was a good thing because it pricked our conscience and would lead us to repentance and sorrow for the wrong we have done. Today, shame is seen as evil or negative. People reject shame and guilt before discerning their cause. The result is that people’s conscience’s have become dulled, distorted, or dead. Those with no conscience can become psychopathic or sociopathic. Their conscience is of no use to them. Without a conscience, they become blind; slaves to the law, or slaves to evil; double-minded. Our conscience makes us conscious of the good and evil that we do. But, our conscience needs to be formed before we can know what is good and what is evil. It is formed by life experience—our relationships with others—by the Law, the Commandments, and by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must learn the difference between good and evil. In the beginning, natural Law, God’s Law, was written on our hearts, but due to sin, we no longer know what is good and what is evil. The world calls good evil and evil good, and has formed our conscience so that we follow the dictates of our own desires and understanding. However, when we are “born again of the Holy Spirit,” God can show us what is good and what is not good. Nevertheless, it is still a process of growth and learning, and often conflicts with our life experience, secular laws, what we have been taught by others, and by our perverted desires. Having a conscience and following it are two different matters. To be free, we must choose to follow the Holy Spirit; to love fully and unconditionally. There will always be tension within us—between the Holy Spirit and the world we live in; between selfish desires and the will to love others; between good and evil. But, if we confess our sins we will always have peace and joy, and find healing for our soul.

Happy the man whose offense is forgiven,

whose sin is remitted.

O happy the man to whom the Lord

imputes no guilt,

in whose spirit is no guile.

I kept it secret and my frame was wasted.

I groaned all the day long

for night and day your hand

was heavy upon me.

Indeed, my strength was dried up

as by the summer’s heat.

But now I have acknowledged my sins;

my guilt I did not hide.

I said: “I will confess

my offense to the Lord.”

And you, Lord, have forgiven

the guilt of my sin.

So let every good man pray to you

in the time of need.

The floods of water may reach high

but him they shall not reach.

You are my hiding place, O Lord;

you save me from distress.

You surround me with cries of deliverance.

(Psalm 32:1-7)