Romans 5:10 says, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” Through the death of Jesus Christ, man and the world were reconciled to God and were saved from their sins. This verse from the Letter to the Romans refers to how the ultimate sacrifice led to the ultimate forgiveness of sins and how God’s mercy left the world in awe.
From Monday, November 28th to Thursday, December 1st, Jesuit held Advent Reconciliation opportunities during school hours for all of the students. Priests, who were invited to the school from different churches, offered times to reconcile with God and be forgiven for any sins during the Reconciliation sessions.
Fr. Jay Hooks commented on the Reconciliation week and how it relates to the school’s motto of being “Men for Others”, saying that “Reconciliation…is coming to somebody else, a representative of the church, and coming to a center… and then we both rejoice that God is merciful…[it] is a chance to experience that forgiveness and conversion.” He explained how sin is turning away from God and also turning away from others because God reaches out to people through others. The opportunity of Reconciliation is a way of coming closer to God and strengthening that bond between a person and the Lord.
Fr. Hooks also described what it really means to go to Reconciliation, to receive that forgiveness from God, and that “the church provides this opportunity for people to come and to sit in front of another human being…and to not just talk about their sinfulness, but then to receive forgiveness as well…that human to human…contact…it’s the opposite of what sin does… it heals the damage that sin does for other people.”
The director of Campus Ministry, Mrs. Crowder, sets up the Reconciliation opportunities every year for the students with help from fellow staff members. She recalled the entire process of organizing the chance for students at Jesuit to receive forgiveness, noticing that “schools throughout the Diocese are also scheduling school wide Reconciliation…so it is sometimes a challenge to ensure we have all the spots filled. This year, we were blessed with overwhelming generosity of time from the Jesuit priests at Montserrat, the Jesuit priests we have here, and a few other Diocesan priests.” Similarly to Fr. Hooks, Mrs. Crowder acknowledged how “the Sacrament of Penance is a time to think about all of those moments when you have not lived up to the person that God is calling you to be. Through Christ’s example we are called to serve one another…This allotted time of silence and reflection gives every student…an opportunity to pray for an increased desire to server for and with one another.”
Michael Field ’17 discussed his experience of attending Jesuit’s Reconciliations and how this past opportunity was his last one during the Advent season at the school. He explained that his second last reconciliation by Jesuit felt “relieving…I felt that my relationship with God had strengthened.” Before entering the Terry Center or before meeting the priest, there is usually a feeling of fear mixed with hesitation that students experience. The same feeling overcame Field, who mentioned that “a part of me felt nervous and a part of me excited. I was nervous because I do not enjoy discussing my faults and mistakes. I was excited because I knew that I was about to be forgiven for these same faults and mistakes…[and] I love having Reconciliation at this time of year…Going to Confession clears your mind. You are not constantly thinking about the mistakes you made recently when you know that they have been forgiven.”
This winter Reconciliation was a first experience for a freshman, Asher Smith ’20, who enjoyed the “Rosaries [that were] available to pray with. Not only do they pass time, but also they reflect on who you are and who you want to be.” With the December assessments right around the corner, the opportunity to be forgiven for any sins and to feel a sense of peace and tranquility helps the students to focus on upcoming tests and finals for the semester. Smith reflected on how he felt going into Reconciliation and leaving the Terry Center, saying that “perhaps my strongest emotion was anticipation. Now that my sins were forgiven, I have a fresh start for the future…After confessing, I felt as if a weight was lifted off my chest, and I could speak clearly to God again…[it] was like a welcoming to rediscover God as part of a new community.”
Most students are bogged down with homework and studying for future tests and quizzes, but reconciling with God creates a stronger bond than ever between God and a person. The Advent Reconciliation lets the students talk to God and feel forgiveness with peace that can help them focus on school and strengthen their relationship with the Lord. Mrs. Crowder acknowledged how “Reconciliation is a time of renewal, a fresh start with God, with ourselves, and with others. We invite all the students to take advantage of reconciliation any time of year, but particularly we provide for it during the Advent and Lenten seasons – natural times for one to renew their relationship with God.”
