Homily for Mass @ CHS November 8, 2018
Fr. Albert Catholic High, New Iberia
What is your favorite song? Something by Drake or Ariana Grande or Lady Gaga or whoever? A favorite song with a tune you can’t get enough of or with lyrics that you can’t stop singing to yourself. Maybe it’s a top 40 right now or something from a while back, but it’s there and you love it and keep going back to it.
It happens to me too. The bands I sometimes listen to aren’t “Christian bands” but usually bands with Christians in them who sometimes include their faith in their music, often indirectly. Anyway, there are two songs come to mind right now: “Slow Your Breath Down” by Future of Forestry and “And Then you Love Someone” by Ben Rector. Both have a pretty good sound, but it’s the lyrics that get to me.
Ben Rector sings “you learn to love to feel the words you hate to hear. Just shut your mouth and then the truth comes stinging clear…” The phrasing gets me, and what it means is even better: that love starts with us admitting our faults and humbly working from there on being better for and with someone.
Then there’s Future of Forestry: “For you were once a child of innocence. And I see you just the same. Your burdens couldn’t win or lose a thing. Oh, I’d tell you once again. But you’re always on the run.” It’s like the other side of the first one. It’s about being ready and eager to forgive, to show someone that the love isn’t really earned, but then having the other person run way, unable or unwilling to accept forgiveness, hiding in their shame.
Anyway, these are some of my go-to songs when I’m in the mood for music. Those lyrics are some of my favorite words. But what about God? Do you think he has a favorite song that he likes to hear? It’s not exactly a son but I do know which words he loves to hear more than anything. They’re actually some of my favorite words too. It’s this: “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.”
Take your favorite song, your favorite lyrics, your favorite quote. Think of how much you love it and multiply it. A million, a billion times… infinitely really. That’s how much God loves to hear those words “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.” More than “Thank you, God.” Even more than “I love you, God.” Don’t believe me? Look at the Gospel.
“There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.” Every time you go to confession – every time – the angels throw a big party and God rejoices. The lost sheep. The lost coin. Jesus uses these parables to tell us that we are valuable to him like a sheep is to a shepherd, like a valuable coin to someone – it’s their livelihood. Actually, the very next parable is the prodigal son and that’s the one that really brings it home. More than sheep or money, God loves us like his children and he does not like to lose us.
So, it makes sense that he loves those words, those lyrics to a song of repentance and forgiveness: “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.” And, My God, I love them too. Maybe that’s why I love those lyrics that talk about repentance and forgiveness, because they remind me of some of my favorite words.
But they aren’t the easiest words to say, I get that. To admit your sins, to “let the truth come stinging clear” can be humiliating and terrifying. So often, people tell me “I’m afraid the priest will judge me” or “I’m embarrassed to admit this.” That’s natural and it is part of repentance, of humbling ourselves to admit our faults. But it is not the only part and it is definitely not the part we should focus on. Rather, hear Jesus Christ in these parables – think of what God sees when you confess. Like the song “For you were once a child of innocence. And I see you just the same.” God sees through your sins and your faults, he saws the innocence you lost. He still sees it and he still loves you.
That really is unconditional. “Your burdens couldn’t win or lose a thing.” Really, we give too much power to our sins, faults, and shortcomings. God’s grace and forgiveness can overcome all of that, but “you’re always on the run.” But we have to accept it. God will not force love on us. He will not force forgiveness on us. Hell is ultimately God’s willingness to respect our choice, the choice to avoid God and never admit we are wrong. He doesn’t want anyone to go there. Scripture says God wants “all men to be saved.”
Which is why he loves those words so much “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.” It’s not that he looks down on us and gets a kick out of being better than us. It’s that those words, that favorite phrase of his, are all it takes to find the lost sheep, the lost coin, the prodigal son. By speaking them aloud and meaning it. By speaking them aloud and letting them carry with them all the sins we commit, these words accept forgiveness, free us to love, and kick off one fantastic party in heaven.
So don’t let the devil convince you to focus on the sins you’re about to confess. Don’t let your shame block you from entering that confessional. Don’t think that I or any priest who is worthy of the name will judge you for what you’re about to tell us. That’s the whole reason you start with God’s favorite words. So, before you even mention all the shameful, dirty, terrible things you’ve done, you start off with that awesome lyric: “Forgive me, Father.” Instantly, we are glad to hear it, so when you tell us the sins, we aren’t focused on how wrong it was, but on how amazing God’s forgiveness is and how great it is that you are willing to accept it.
Yes, I and other priests make mistakes. Yes, we might challenge you with better ways to avoid the sin. But, no, we do not think less of you. No, you do not need to be ashamed. You do not need to be afraid. You’ve got a favorite song, and some favorite words. Well, so do I and so does God. If you want to make me happy, if you want to make God happy… really, if you want to make yourself happy. Then go to confession often and please, put on God’s favorite song.
Very Good Father!