Today's Lectionary TextJohn 10:27My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.  Today's Devotional
I admit I love a good mystery and I’m a bit of an Anglophile, so finding “Father Brown” on Netflix during this time has been a great binge for me. Not everyone would enjoy unwinding to a casual murder in an English village but it works for me. I do have to admit I’m not sure I would want to live in the vicinity of the setting, there are a lot of unsettling deaths that happen but they all seem to be solved in the course of an hour so that is comforting.
Father Brown is a Catholic priest and in nearly every episode he uses the sacrament of confession to gain information, to free the innocent, or take down a murderer. As a lifelong Methodist I find the act of confession to an intermediary confusing. Confess your sins to another and they give you a list of prayers that will absolve you. Why the middle man? Why not confess your sins directly to God? Perhaps confession and the subsequent suggestion of prayers for penance is relieving to many. To have an action to do in response to their sin and absolution. It is not mine to judge the practices of others, and if it works for them go for it. Lately there have been some very creative solutions to social distancing including drive-through confessions and offering of general absolutions to groups. While we may do things differently, we are brothers and sisters in Christ. I think their struggle to be nimble, safe and effective to their flock in this season is as great as our own. I am grateful that I can take my sins directly to my Creator and because of the sacrifice of His Son those sins are washed away. That doesn’t mean once I confess I can keep on sinning, but go forward and try to do better. To be a better person than I was at the moment I sinned and do my best not to do it again. And I know there is a possibility I will do it again, however there is comfort in knowing I, much like a lost sheep can return to the flock, turn again toward God and be welcomed back into his fold. Prayer for ReflectionHeavenly Father, we thank you for the sacrifice of your son. During this time of turmoil let us turn toward you, and be your hands and feet in this troubled world.
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