And You, My Brothers and Sisters

One of my favorite parts of daily mass I go to is the Penitential Rite.  The act of confessing to everyone around you that you have sinned is so powerful.  It is a humbling moment to say out loud, "I have greatly sinned.  In my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do."  So often, we try to rationalize those moments where we did not act as simply bad timing.  By saying it out loud in front of the church, all of us are recognizing that we are human and that we sin.  It is ok!  God did not say we needed to be perfect.  If that was possible, we would not have needed Jesus to die for us to even have a chance!

After we all confess our sins, we go about asking for prayer.  The part that always makes me cry is "and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God."  We don't have to do it alone.  I don't have to face my own sin alone.  You can pray for me to have strength, just as I can pray for you.  The thought of churches all over the world praying the same prayer, all of us asking God to pray for every other member of the church and their sins, is so beautiful.  We are all united by our faith and by the fact that we ALL sin.

This is not the only time we are encouraged to ask those around us for help.  We give a sign of peace during the mass, we hold hands while praying the our father, we take a moment to pray for our own intentions while everyone around you can pray for you.  Even within the sacraments, we rely on the community for support.  Godparents are chosen to help raise a child in the faith, you choose your own Confirmation sponsor to help guide your spiritual development, and you ask all of your friends and family to witness your marriage.  We even have prayers, like the Rosary and Liturgy of the Hours, that can be prayed in community.  I just prayed Morning Prayer with a group of friends this weekend, and it is amazing to unite your prayers with others!

The Catholic church is one that involves delving into your own faith and relationship with Christ.  However, it also expects you to share that faith with others.  We are all called to be missionaries of Christ, and we can start with praying for those around us and holding them accountable. 

As I am preparing for a potential missionary life, I want to be the first to say I am not perfect.  I am exactly where I need to be right now, and that is ok.  Please pray for me in my moments of weakness, and ask God to help me be open to His will.