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What do you do for family reading? Why is penance necessary?

Today’s Gospel story is puzzling to many people. It even sounds a bit harsh. The servant has been out working hard all day. The master has probably been engaged in some high-level negotiations. Dirty and weary after a long day’s work, the servant comes home, and the master has a number of expectations before the servant may eat himself or rest. And Jesus says that this is what the servant should expect! He is, after all, the servant. The master does not owe him any thanks or consideration. The servant should understand that doing all of this is simply his duty. What is the point Jesus is trying to make? The focus is really on the servant. And the point is that nothing the servant does can obligate the master. The servant cannot earn the master’s praise or obligate the master to repay him for his good work. That’s not because the master is unkind or ungrateful. But it is because the master does not owe the servant anything, while the servant probably owes his very life to the master. What Jesus is doing is drawing an analogy between God and the master, between the servant and us. The behaviour Jesus is discouraging is the idea that we can somehow earn God’s approval. Jesus makes it clear that we are simply expected to have faith – that is part of being Christian, just like serving is part of being a servant. Our faith does not require God to do anything. God does not heal us because we have faith. God heals us because God is God. God loves us simply because God chooses to love us. God’s power is active in our lives. God is present to us. God gives us more than we ask or deserve. God sustains our very life. God does all of that but NOT because we have faith. God does that because it is God’s nature to love and heal and sustain life. Neither our faith nor our actions can earn us God’s favour. Nor can our faith or our actions earn us salvation – the other common misconception. Many people believe that they must be good or do good in order to be saved. Or, on the other hand, they believe that their current or prior behaviour makes it impossible for them to be saved. Yet there is nothing you can do to earn salvation – it is a free gift offered by Christ through his life, death and resurrection. Even as God’s love is a free gift offered with no requirements or regulations. God simply is love. And Christ’s life, death and resurrection have already saved us. Nothing we can do, no amount of faith we can generate, makes God love us more or makes us more saved. Being saved is already a done deal – an accomplished fact. Our responsibility is to respond to God’s action in and through Christ. We are called to a life of faith; not to obtain anything from God but in response to God’s loving action toward us. We are called to have faith, not to get God to love us or heal us or to get Christ to save us. But we are called to have faith because God loves and heals us. We are called to have faith because Christ has saved us. Our faith does not need to impress God or anyone else. Our faith simply needs to respond to what God has given us. So, the next time you are concerned about whether you have enough faith, stop and get in touch with God’s love for you. Remember that Christ’s life, death and resurrection already has made eternal life available to you. Become aware of all the gifts God has given you. And know that you are infinitely loved. Respond to God’s love with thankfulness and love in return. That is your faith. And that faith, even if it were as small as the tiniest mustard seed – that faith can transform you and the world. For God, working through you can do more than you can ever ask or imagine. As Paul tells us in today’s Second Reading, the Lord will always give us the love and self-control we need to bear our share of hardship for the Gospel—with a strength that can come from God alone. Our task is to continue doing what He has commanded—to love and to build up His kingdom—trusting that His vision still has its time. One day, though we are but “unprofitable servants,” we will be invited to eat and drink at our Master’s table. It is that day we anticipate with each celebration of the Eucharist

Anomaly is correct, but in addition, Jesus gave the power of forgiveness of sins to the apostles; bishops continue the apostolic office; priests have some powers of the apostolic delegated to them, including the forgiveness of sins. The average practicing Catholic doesn't have that authority. Now, if Jesus had wanted to give that authority to the average person, he could have done so somehow or another - at Pentecost, or And from a practical perspective: Once upon a long time ago, I was at a lecture by a priest who was applying for a teaching position in a seminary; he opened his remarks by saying, "I am a moral theologian - we deal in sin." All priests have at least minimal training in moral theology, whereas the average practicing Catholic does not. Sin is a complex topic, much more than simply venial vs. mortal. There are 'reserved cases' that even the average priest can't forgive. Those have to be referred to higher authorities, sometimes as high as Rome. Knowing how to fit the penance to the sin, knowing the penitents' state of life and the concomitant responsibilities (could a lay person administer Reconciliation to a priest? a bishop? a doctor?), knowing what to say to the penitent, being able to recognize contrition - administering the sacrament of Reconciliation takes a lot of pastoral skill. So lay people can forgive each other for personal offenses and/or social offenses, but as Anomaly pointed out, real sins are offenses against God. Therefore, God - or his duly authorized representative/minister - needs to forgive those.

Looking back at your initial post, I realized I didn’t comprehend you original post well. You are challenging the use of the priest. Catholics call confession “Reconciliation”. You are repairing a relationship. Sins all sins are an affront against God, you need to reconcile with Him, and know you are okay. It’s a rich action. More than a sorry, and everyone forgets all about it. It’s sorry, can you help me do better, with a response. That’s why a priest is needed. A spokesman on a human level. Not just a kind person to speak kind words. You need a God representative, speaking for God, with assured forgiveness and grace to work with your faith that God is represented by a priest.

She is a toddler, and I am a working mom. It’s hit and miss.

I’ve been in the road/traffic business for forty years. These failures are real problems that cause accidents and impede the flow of traffic. Intersections, merge lanes, and multiple lanes are designed for efficient and safe travel. Please be polite and use the roads as engineered.

I’m guessing you meant priest, not peristaltic, lol. Luigi answered that. It’s because it’s a sacrament. In Catholic theology, assurance of Gad’s forgiveness is a huge, and weighty action. It’s too important and impactful than to be weiled Willy nilly by anyone. It’s a significant thing to really “know” you have God’s forgiveness. It’s not really limiting God’s forgiveness, but assuring to your forgiveness ‘from God’ is real and effective. It’s also a reminder of grace being granted to grow beyond your imperfections. Assured forgiveness, and grace to help, together as Sacrament. That’s very impactful. What specifically troubles you about Confession? What do you feel is wrong or lacking about how Catholics administer it? Do you think it puts limits on the availability of God’s forgiveness as a means of power or control?

But why is the administrator a peristaltic and not a faithful lay person?

Anomaly said: "You shouldn’t just be considering it as a magic spell to earn heaven. You are called to become better as that is your true nature." That's why it's a sacrament - sacrament are channels of grace, to help us progress in holiness. So the psychological aspects may be beneficial, but they don't necessarily make us holier, whereas the grace derived from the sacrament does make us holier. Another reason - I suppose (I'm no theologian) - you need to confess to a priest is that sacraments are always administered by one person to another. In the case of penance, the administer-er is a priest.

It's alright, once in a while, if the child eats reasonably healthy food the rest of the time...

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. If we hold on to our faults, mistakes, sins, both past and present, it’s very damaging to our psyche. Unless you’re a sociopath, you Carry this guilt and shame. You only can exist and live in the present (while on earth, theologically). Confession is great therapy to acknowledge errors, and look beyond them to who you really are. A worthwhile human with inherent dignity. A great Confession with a good priest, is very real psychological therapy, as well as having the religious aspects. Fundamentally, the deeper theology is about you striving (and struggling) to be the best person you can become, while acknowledging faults and seeking to grow beyond them. You shouldn’t just be considering it as a magic spell to earn heaven. You are called to become better as that is your true nature. As social beings, we aren’t in this alone. We need others help at times.

Forgive me, for I have sinned against good nutrition and bought my kid McDonalds.

How is confession like CBT?

Your description of your faith is super interesting. Although I’m a fallen away Catholic, I have deep respect for Catholicism, both as a religion, but philosophically. I was educated at catholic schools, taught faith classes for a few years, etc. I still stay connected through family, reading, etc. It’s a big step to leave Catholicism. Most people leave because they don’t really understand it, or disagree with another’s beliefs about what it is, or how they manifest it in their lives. There is much that can be said to defend confession, theologically, as well as with behavior sciences, and solid philosophy. The theological aspects of forgiveness to get into heaven is pretty technical in detail, but it certainly is healthy as a CBT tool. It’s fantastic for mind and body, so why not your afterlife soul?

Are you a pinball wizard or a wonderful wizard?

I'll take that as a compliment.

I actually used this meme at work today.

Banned for drinking unadulterated coffee

Banned for drinking adulterated coffee...

Unadulterated: 🤢 / 🔥

Anything that requires developing a taste is more sophisticated - and probably healthier for you long-term. "Unadulterated" is right!

Banned for using the word redundancy

In my family, everyone drinks their coffee black. When I order a coffee and the server asks "Cream or sugar?," I always answer "Unadulterated!"