Anger. I can explode into it inside so easily. My body stiffens and my fists clench. I lash out in my mind with angry thoughts.
Today a man let a heavy door into my apartment building slam in my face after he looked right at me coming in behind him. Boom, anger filled me. A bit later a friend called and was telling me about an unjust situation at her work that is happening to her. Boom, anger filled me again. The clenched fists and lashing out in my mind with angry thoughts, as if I was picking up stones and throwing them at the man who let the door slam on me or throwing them at the people at my friend's work that are hurting her.
In today's Gospel reading people picked up rocks to stone Jesus. He says to them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?" (John 10:32)
If we could have had our Lenten Penance Service this past Wednesday, I would have confessed my moments of lashing out at people in my mind through thoughts of anger. Those were like rocks I threw at Jesus. Holy Week begins this Sunday- Palm Sunday. I can't have the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Holy Week because of our Stay at Home Order, but I can do a Contrition of Charity in my domestic church- my church of the home. So can you. What sins would you like to bring to God?
Pope Francis has said to make an act of contrition and promise God, "I will go to confession as soon as it's possible, please forgive me now." The Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1452 says, "When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called "perfect" (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible."
The only Church we have right now is the domestic one of our home. Let's drop our rocks of sin before Holy Week in our home churches as Pope Francis said. Make the Sign of the Cross and come to God. Bring to mind your sins. Click here and prayerfully listen. Pray the Act of Contrition and promise God you will go to confession as soon as you are able. Close with the Sign of the Cross. Drop your rocks.