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16 Mar 2025 - Second Sunday of Lent, Cycle C

Years ago, I was asked to tell my story at a women’s retreat. I had to talk about struggles I’d had—including growing up with a debilitating childhood illness—and how faith helped me overcome. As I struggled with how to begin, I remembered a pivotal experience I’d had as a teen. It happened during a parish Communal Penance service, which my parents made us attend. I wasn’t happy about being there and was ready to rattle off the same old laundry list. But somehow, because of the priest I went to, I dredged up deeper stuff. I confessed I’d been a great burden to my family when I was young and ill. And how, now that I was better—but greatly overcompensating by being a stellar student and overinvolved in extracurriculars—I was afraid to let them down all over again. In all my years of going to Confession, nobody had ever taught me the difference between shame and guilt—but this priest did so. He took the time, despite a long Confession line, to make sure he planted that message—which included God’s vast love to me, my parents’ vast love for me—deep within my heart. That priest was Jesus for me, and an enormous weight fell from my shoulders. It transformed me to the core. Much like the Transfiguration, that encounter revealed to me who God was and how Jesus channeled that power. It had the same effect as a near-death experience—except that it was a near-life experience, a near God of Life experience.

Authors Mary Lynn Hendrickson

near-death experience Transfiguration confession

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Take Five for Faith Daily

Choose your words carefully

Words have the power to bring life or death. For God, words breathe life into all creation. For Mary, a simple yes results in the Incarnation, the Word made flesh. Yet words can also be destructive. Pontius Pilate’s question, “Shall I crucify your king?” and Saul’s “murderous threats” of Christians both led to fear, suffering, and death. Examine the words you use regularly. Are they critical and condemning, or encouraging and gracious? The choice is yours.

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