2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B
First reading: Is 40:1-5, 9-11
Second reading: 2 Pet 3:8-15
Gospel reading: Mk 1:1-8

“My first confession is going to be pretty long,” said a catechumen after a talk on sin. “There are so many sins!”

“Yes,” someone added. “The Catholic Church sure knows how to make you feel guilty!”

Guilt feelings can be mentally unhealthy if they make us shoulder the blame for others’ faults, avoid acting for fear of doing wrong, or think that we cannot be forgiven.

However, if we really are guilty, guilt feelings are appropriate, for they can lead to sorrow, atonement, and change.

Guilt is “the condition of a person who has done moral wrong, who is therefore more or less estranged from the one he has offended, and who is liable for punishment before he has been pardoned and has made atonement.”

Objective guilt is our condition if we have done wrong. Our subjective guilt depends on how serious the wrong is, how completely we knew what we were doing, and how willingly we consented.

Does the Church harp too much on sin and guilt?

No. Remember how Christ interpreted the Sixth Commandment: “Anyone who looks lustfully at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Remember how he concluded: “You must be made perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Then you will realize how sinful we are.

We must face our guilt before we can even begin to talk to God about anything else. That is why we start Mass by admitting that we have sinned.

We must face our guilt before we can see this Sunday’s readings as the good news that we celebrate at Christmas and anticipate during Advent. God comes to forgive us, not to condone our sins. We should prepare for Christmas as St. John the Baptist urged, preaching “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

During the next few weeks, I urge you to make a full, honest examination of your life, repent your sins, and go to confession.

First, consider sins against the first great commandment: to love God.

∙ Is your heart set on clothes, amusement, pleasure, or money?

∙ Do you neglect God?

∙ Are you lazy about prayer?

∙ Do you let Christ down in public?

∙ Have you been frivolous in church?

∙ Have you been late for Mass through carelessness?

∙ Have you neglected to fast one hour before Communion?

Next, consider sins against the second great commandment: to love your neighbour.

Have you 

∙ manipulated others for your advantage?

∙ neglected your family duties?

∙ treated others discourteously?

∙ insulted others?

∙ quarrelled, fought, or lost your temper with others?

∙ indulged feelings of hatred for others?

∙ made it difficult for others by your irritability?

Have you

∙ neglected work you should have done?

∙ told lies, explicitly or implicitly?

∙ exposed others’ faults, truthfully or untruthfully?

∙ harboured resentment or refused to forgive?

Have you

∙ consented to impure thoughts or conversation?

∙ abused your body for sexual pleasure?

∙ read or viewed impure books, magazines, films, or internet sites?

∙ helped others to sin by your impurity?

∙ coveted someone else’s spouse?

∙ indulged lustful thoughts?

∙ dressed immodestly?

Have you

∙ stolen from individuals, companies, or governments?

∙ cheated in exams, games, or income tax?

∙ wasted your money or anyone else’s?

∙ wasted your time or your employer’s?

∙ procrastinated?

∙ been late through carelessness?

Have you

∙ put anyone at risk by running red lights, speeding, or jaywalking?

∙ been rude to other drivers or pedestrians?

∙ eaten too much?

∙ drunk too much alcohol?

∙ used legal drugs too much?

∙ used illegal drugs?

Have you

∙ coveted others’ possessions?

∙ given bad example, especially to children?

During Advent, the Church wants us to face our guilt, but not to go on feeling guilty; she wants us to repent and be forgiven. Only then we can wait for the Lord’s coming in peace, as St. Paul urges.

Fr. Hawkswell is again teaching “The Catholic Faith in Plain English” free of charge.  All the materials (video and print) are available online at www.beholdvancouver.org/catholic-faith-course. Session 14, “Supernatural Life,” will be available Dec. 6.