Integrity means your words and your actions are in synch, the wholeness of your character is honest and trustworthy. The Act of Mercy, Admonish the Sinner, encourages us to question whether our actions and words match – simply stated, do they fit? Are we living the words we speak? Are the people we love also able to live a moral life?
Before proceeding through this week’s Pew to Pilgrim practical suggestions on how to perform this Act of Mercy, reflect on what is Admonish the Sinner. Review this week’s postings to uncover some new perspectives. Discern over how this week’s act of mercy is (or is not) a part of your life.
- Sunday – We all sin
- Monday - The purpose of a common sense of morality
- Tuesday - Communicating with mercy and love
- Wednesday - Caught in God's generosity
- Thursday - Sinners walking the road together
- Friday - Peace with lips and in your heart
Going to confession does not mean we are promising to never sin again. It does offer time to open our hearts to both our own sins as well as those committed against you by others. This is an opportunity to experience God's love for you so that you are able to share it with others.
Preparing for confession offers us a break in our daily routine to reflect and prayerfully answer the question of where in your life you may have fallen, for example:
- Daily prayer or attendance at Mass
- Truthfulness or gossiping
- Taking the Lord’s name in vain
- Disobedience
- Hate, revenge or lack of forgiveness
- Immoral behavior
- Harming others
An interesting and perhaps paradoxical approach to examine our own sins is to look at what bothers us about others' behavior. Often, what bothers us the most is exactly what is problematic in our own behavior. Be kind to yourself but be honest and let this become a regular habit of reflection. Pray to the Lord for forgiveness and guidance.
The essence of Admonish the Sinner is a call for us to urge our “brothers and sisters” to address their sins. Of course, this needs to come from a place of love. This familial approach allows us to share our true intention of helping the other person, not just something we want to tell the other person. This requires extraordinary empathy and compassion, both to approach the other person but also to help them be able to truly “hear you.”
So how do we practically offer this Act of Mercy?
The essence of Admonish the Sinner is a call for us to urge our “brothers and sisters” to address their sins. Of course, this needs to come from a place of love. This familial approach allows us to share our true intention of helping the other person, not just something we want to tell the other person. This requires extraordinary empathy and compassion, both to approach the other person but also to help them be able to truly “hear you.”
So how do we practically offer this Act of Mercy?
- Apologize to someone for the way you treated them; let them know you realize your mistake
- Find a way to make a regular practice of the Sacrament of Reconciliation - reflect on your sins
- Been awhile? there are many helpful guides to prepare (an examination of conscience), how to confess your sins, ways to listen to the priest's advice, expressing your sorrow (an act of contrition) and absolution & penance
- Recognize that "values are caught, not taught." This proverb encourages us to be a good example for not only our children but also for our community.
- Talk to your priest about what you are struggling with and how to improve your own actions
- Read Fr. Barron's Word on Fire blog on The Gift of Confession
- Think about someone you may have shut out because of their sinful actions.
- Reach out to them to discuss how you were hurt and/or why you thought their actions were wrong. Work on forgiving that person.
- Begin reading the Bible more often or sign up for daily affirmations or Catholic newsletters that encourage you to discover new aspects of the Catholic faith.
- Start to have a better understanding of what Catholics are called to believe in so that you can work towards living that life and you can also better educate others who are not living in the way Catholics are called to live.
- Attend a Faith Formation lecture to educate yourself on different aspects of Catholicism; bring someone with you to share and jointly reflect on what you heard
- Participate in Nightfever tonight, August 27 (or another one in the Fall) at Holy Name Cathedral - talk to one of the priests who are there for guidance
- Have a Mass intention done for someone who needs "admonishment" but you may not be able to talk to them directly
- Join the Wednesday evening Holy Name Cathedral Bible Study group
- Watch the political debates and take note of the candidates' positions. How do they fit into Catholicism? How do they not?
- Go on a retreat to take time to reflect on how you are living your life; what changes would you like to make? Are there people in your life you should be talking with? Use the time to consider what steps you would like to take in your journey as a Disciple of Christ:
- Living Your Mission - Holy Name Cathedral Young Adult Retreat: Saturday October 1/2
- Holy Name Cathedral's Women's Retreat - Fall 2016 October 14-16
- Ask a friend on how to approach someone who needs your support; perhaps even role play with them on what you might say or how you could say it
Lori Doyle and Gabi Schultz have served as members of the
Parish Pastoral Council, active with a variety of Liturgical Ministries as
Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers, Cathedral Altar Servers and Ministers of Care
at Prentice Hospital/NW Hospital. Both parishioners for about 6 years, Lori
loves to travel and cook and is a proud mother of her son John, a UM Wolverine.
Gabi enjoys trying new restaurants, running, cooking lessons and spending time
with friends and family.
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