What’s in a glance? A glance can express and communicate many things. Did you ever wonder what it was like when Our Lord looked at a person, glanced at him or her? What was it like when His glance was felt to penetrate the deepest recesses of a person’s heart? His glance was often quite inviting and tender; but it could also be strong and quite challenging. One glance from our Lord and St. Matthew, the tax collector, was moved to leave everything behind and follow Him. It was a glance that penetrated deep down into the hearts of young John and Andrew, the fishermen, and startled them when Our Lord asked them what they were (really) looking for. In the case of the stubborn, closed minded and often malicious Pharisees, His glance could be one of sadness but sometimes of anger. It was one look from the Master that caused the conversion of Zacchaeus, the man who climbed a tree to see Jesus over the heads of the crowd because he was too short to see and rather disgusted with his life. The penetrating glance of Our Lord laid bare the soul of the adulterous woman before His eyes and His tender affection brought about contrition and ultimately freedom from the shackles of sin which had so long held her in captivity.

When was the last time you allowed Our Lord to glance into your soul? When was the last time that, with Him, you allowed yourself to look deep within? All of us should do this frequently. The Lord would like to reside permanently and comfortably within each of us.
But are our hearts so cluttered with spiritual neglect or, worse yet, so filled with unrepented sins, that there is no room for Him? Are there things there that you are embarrassed for Him to see and you to face? Are there things that seem just too shameful? Or is the field of your soul so overgrown with weeds that the ground no longer bears fruit? Are there open wounds that need to be healed? Are there perhaps some relationships that are broken?

How much Our Lord desires to free us from the sin and brokenness that shackles us; to cleanse us and make us totally His. And this opportunity is given to each of us when we make use of the Sacrament of Penance after having allowed Him to look into the heart and see what’s there. How sad it is that so many rarely, if ever, make use of this Sacrament. Yet it is He who meets us in the confessional, forgives and pours out His mercy and healing. What about you; how long will you keep Him waiting? Please, if you have been away from Confession or go very infrequently, make time for this beautiful encounter with the Lord. It is very important to try to go even monthly to confession if not more often when one is aware of serious sin.

Currently, Confessions are heard 5:00-5:30 on Saturdays at Immaculate Conception and 7:00-7:25 PM at Assumption. Know that the priests of your parish are happy to hear confessions at other times during the week. There is a priest on duty daily. Call so one of us can schedule an appointment. By now you have read last week’s bulletin regarding the proposed changes in our Mass schedule. Please note that beginning November 28, 2015, confessions will be heard 4:00-5:00 PM at Immaculate Conception and 3:30-3:55 PM at Assumption.

Finally, Our Holy Father Pope Francis has this to say to you and to me about the Sacrament:
Everyone should say to himself, “When was the last time I went to confession?” and if it has been a long time, don’t lose another day! Go, the priest will be good. And Jesus will be there and Jesus is better than the priests – Jesus receives you. He will receive you with so much love! Be courageous, and go to confession ... Some might say, “But,
Father, I am embarrassed!” Even embarrassment is good. It’s healthy to have a bit of shame. It does us good, because it makes us more humble. When someone is in line for confession he feels all these things – even shame – but often, when he finishes confessing, he leaves feeling free, great, beautiful, clean and happy.

Let our Lord glance at you!
Fr. Paul