Dear Parishioners of St. James:
Praised be Jesus Christ!
The best preparation for receiving the Lord is repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Advent is a time to make straight the way of the Lord by receiving the Sacrament of Penance. Saying “I’m sorry” to God, receiving forgiveness in the Sacrament of Confession, and doing penance for our sins restores and strengthens our relationship with the Lord. God wants to bring comfort to His people “by speaking tenderly to her, proclaiming that her guilt is expiated” (Cf. Is. 40:1-4).
The Sacrament of Penance brings peace to troubled souls. We cannot have peace outside of God’s grace. Because we are sinners, we are troubled by things like anxiety, addictions, anger, loneliness, resentments, and fear. As the Psalm for today says, “I will hear what God proclaims; the Lord – for he proclaims peace to his people” (Ps. 85:9). Our Lord wants us to have peace, but we stay away from the one place where peace may be found – His healing mercy in the Sacrament of Confession.
Our misery cries out to God for healing. Give Jesus your sins. He is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. When we receive absolution from the priest, then we will have knowledge of our salvation through the forgiveness of our sins (cf. Lk. 1:77).
God bless you,
Fr. Geary
Saint James Catholic Church 