Will Aberger ’17 sits eagerly in the Terry Center, waiting to celebrate the first school Mass of 2016. Surrounded by Jesuit students, he looks down the center aisle to see Fr. Wally Sidney, S.J. lead the procession to the altar, followed by Mr. Lugo and Fr. Liese. The Jesuit faculty, students, and friends in attendance celebrated the first Friday of Ordinary Time on January 15, 2016.
Fr. Sidney began the Mass by pointing out that “We are all sinners. That’s what we must understand at the beginning of this liturgical year.” He elaborated on this statement, promulgating, “I’m not saying that we’re all corrupt sinners. I mean that we have all fallen short of the expectations that God has placed on us; that is our sin.” His definition of sin surprised many audience members, turning the definitions that they’ve learned through years of Catholic school on their head. Upon reflecting on Sidney’s statement, Evan Bausbacher ’17 remarked that “I try to never fall short of any expectations that I place on myself, but now I know that the next step in my faith formation is to meditate on God’s expectations and try my best to achieve them.” And if he doesn’t, “There’s always confession,” he joyfully said.
Continuing the theme of sin and the necessity of repentance, Fr. Sidney made an analogy between living in a life of sin and not going to confession, with the harmful practice of “strip mining for coal.” The definition of strip mining is scraping away at the earth’s surface to gather the coal that’s close to the earth’s surface. Strip or surface mining destroys landscapes, forests and wildlife at the site of the mine. Clearing the topsoil leads to soil erosion and the destruction of agricultural land. Continuous sin, too, strips away at our soul. Fr. Sidney noted how the earth now looks “scarred” as strip mining has taken its toll. Without confessing our sinful ways, we can become scarred like the damaged earth as well. Fr. Sidney’s analogy resonated with junior Bobby Turner who commented, “I won’t let myself slip up by avoiding confession anymore. I now know that nobody can bear the burden of their sins without permanent damage.”
Stay tuned to The Roundup for more coverage of this liturgical year’s Masses!
