Reconciliation: Father Matthew Presents the Sacraments

[stephent891]

Radiohead and The National in the same video? Awesome.

[CommieThreat]

Father Matthew, I've left comments scattered throughout, but the parish profile for Good Shepherd in Ogden, UT is nearly complete, when it gets submitted to the Church headquarters in NYC... you should apply to be the rector!!!

[joeb0]

what about God's grace and authority given to the Apostles to hand down to the Bishops, are you going to ignore that? Paul said that we are saved by grace through faith. James said faith alone is dead, and Paul said that those who do not discern the body of Christ at mass are guilty of the crucifixion, if the Eucharist were a "symbol" why would he declare anathema on those who would not see it as the body of Christ?

[lizazoon]

The majority of catholics in Western Europe and North-America don`t believe in confession any more. The confessionals are empty. Thank god.

[matthewgsteel]

I'm a Roman Catholic, but I really like your videos. Thank you and happy new year Father Matthew.

[sallyb2u]

Fr Matthew - Thank you! I discovered your presentations thanks to Barbara Crafton and the Geranium Farm website. As a "practicing" (aren't we all?) Episcopalian, I love your laughing/loving discussion of the Sacraments and sharing the Good News! Bravo! And thanks be to God!

[0teacher]

This is great, im going to show this to my students who are learning about confession at the moment

[jplaysem]

thankou father mathew. God Bless

[in2food]

His pardon is pronounced already. No need to hear it from a Priest. It is declared in his word.

[jedi0424]

But hearing it from the priest can be spiritually comforting.

[in2food]

I see. And seeing / reading it for yourself right from the inspired word of God isn't enough? Hey, more power to you. If you need to be told/reminded by a human to help overcome your lack of confidence in His word then I'm all for it. Just don't forget that your forgiveness has nothing to do with what the priest does or says. It is all a gift of grace from God. ---Peace---

[jedi0424]

I'm not saying that God's word isn't enough.....but reconciliation is part of the mission of the Church....a Church which Christ has given the power to absolve sin. The Church has always known that it is through Christ alone that sins are forgiven.....that's why the priest says I absolve you "through my ministry" rather than simply "I absolve you"

Additionally, the priest admits his own unworthiness in asking the prayers of the penitent at the end of the rite.

[jedi0424]

Confession/Reconciliation of a Penitent is also about taking public responsibility for your sins....When we commit wrong, there needs to be an acknowledgement of that sin....a clearing of the air...and it is SUPER spiritually helpful for me to know that someone out there knows my spiritual struggles and that I am not perfect.

[in2food]

Wait... You say it is through Christ alone that sins are forgiven. Then why ad a priest into the mix? I sin. I repent. I ask Christ for forgiveness. He died and shed his blood to cover my sin. The Bible says he remembers it no more and separates me from my sin as far as the east is from the west. Done deal....

[jedi0424]

Confession is more than simply absolution......it is about confronting sin head on....and realizing where you fall short in the faith, and to speak it with your lips.

[in2food]

Of course. I have no problem discussing my difficulties with Christian brothers. My study of his word is how I realize where I go wrong. That and the Spirit speaking to my spirit. When I go to God I am confronting my condition head on and seeking the only real remedy, the grace of God and guidance of the Holy Spirit. I ask absolution directly from the only one who gives it, Christ. No need to add extraneous steps. Check out Hebrews. We now have the right to enter the Holy of Hollies.

[jedi0424]

"Of course. I have no problem discussing my difficulties with Christian brothers"

In essence, this is where the current form of Confession stems from......

In the 6th centuries, those who had committed grave sins would venture out into the desert to visit with the holy monks and hermits that were examplars of Christian living......under the spiritual guidance of these desert fathers, they would perform acts of penance to restore their tranquility...

[jedi0424]

It is important to note here that penance is not a judicial punishment, but rather that the prayers, fasting, almsgiving, acts of charity etc. which were prescribed were meant as a sort of spiritual medicine to help us conform more faithfully to the image of Christ

[jedi0424]

And we do use the Scripture in the rite itself.....Confession (in the Anglican Church of Canada) usually opens with the recitation of Psalm 51 or a portion of Psalm 103

also Hebrews is not a particularly good proof text to use, as it states clearly that sins after baptism won't be forgiven Hebrews 10:26.....

We have to remember to read scripture as a whole and not just in bits.....btw, the scriptural basis for Confession is John 20:23 and 1 John 1:9 among others. :)

[jedi0424]

It is one thing to know we are sinners.....it is entirely another to admit that out loud and and to risk public shame and humiliation....

Also, remember that an integral part of Confession is spiritual guidance from the priest as to how to overcome the impulses that lead to the sin in the first place....thus, encouraging the penitent to live in closer relationship with Christ :)....

[in2food]

I'm with you on sitting under a pastor or priest. That is why the office of pastor is specified in the Bible. The Bible is also a valuable source of information as to handling such temptations. In fact the Bible is THE ultimate source. We would all do well to seek more info from the bible and less from Clergy. And lets not forget "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" 1 Timothy 2:5. So I suggest going right to the mediator. No need for a 2nd mediator.

[JimmieBluffdweller]

Really splendid presentations! I stumbled across these as I was searching entries about my own parish (Christ Church, Nashville) and realized that Father Matthew is the fellow who replaced my good friend Fr. Gross at Christ's Church, Rye...nice serendipity!

[ActorGuy]

Hi Jimmie, so cool to see a poster from Christ Church. This was the first Episcopal Church I ever attended while at Trevecca Nazarene University. I loved it so much I decided to leave the Nazarene Church and become Episcopalian. That was during the autumn and winter of 1981. Telling you this story I can still remember the smell of Christ Church and hear one of the first processional hymns I remember, Sleepers Awake. If memory serves me, John Bouche was the associate rector at the time.

[alkasalzer]

good call with the Radiohead...

[ClSSMClN]

Father i have a question say a serial killer confesses to killing a lot of people BUT the priest knows that he will kill again does the priest have to report it to the police? Just wondering because my religion told me they did or else they would have to face jail time... Thanks.

[blink56k]

I'm not sure how it works with Anglicans but in the Catholic tradition the priest will try to convince the person himself to hand himself over to authorities but the seal of confession would still be virtually unbreakable, unless the wrongdoing was revealed in a setting outside of confession (like if the priest was a mental health counselor or just talking privately to the person). That's to the best of my knowledge, hopefully Fr. Matthew can shed more light!

[jedi0424]

It depends on denomination, diocese, and also regional law....

for instance in Canada, the seal of the confession is unbreakable in Quebec but not in the other provinces.....

Not sure how it works in the USA though.

[differnet]

I am not a priest, but I am a lifetime Episcopalian. First, the priest cannot give absolution to a person who does not intend to repent. To repent means to change your ways. Second, in the Episcopal Church confession is not just about words and prayers, it is often about acts. You may be called upon to do something to show your repentence. In the case you describe, I suspect the priest would ask for the killer to turn himself in. Priest have a conscience of their own.

[jedi0424]

depends on the country......but generally the seal is absolute.

[JPerkinsProductions]

Love the squeeky door with the Mr. Rogers entrance (homage?)

[wanderingsociologist]

its always interesting to watch these videos despite my personal beliefs. i think that its important or at least fun to listen to things from a different perspective. i particularly like the part about the priest asking for the prayers of the penitent, i think that is important because it reminds us that were all human, whatever position we are in.

[Trailbzr]

Yeah, the Episcopal church is actually kind of fun. It's what the Catholic church would be if it was run by the laity.

That's why it's declining -- its members have become either conservative or secular. (Bush the elder is still a communicant; Bush the younger isn't.)

[exlancs]

I didn't realise the priest would ask for the penitent's prayers. My experience of (most) priests is that they are aloof and other worldly, not like us 'mere mortals'. I think the Church has a big credibility problem - on the one hand it talks of love and forgiveness and then says that certain members of society (such as gay people)aren't welcome. I wish there were many more Father Matthews spreading the true message of the Christian faith.

[daniel01141975]

People who are gay are welcomed as children of God. In my confirmation class located in a parish in Alabama (center of "bible belt") a girl asked about the churches position on sexual orientation (and abortion-she was hitting all the controversial buttons). Our Pere said "If you are a person who is gay the Episcopal church is where you belong. We are your church." It is unfortunate that the media has been flooded with the "bishop" in Uganda screaming isolated verses.

[differnet]

I think you are confusing the Cahtolic church with the Episcopal churc.

[dutchguy]

Fr. Matthew, do YOU make yourself available for confession (perhaps sitting on the other side of the altar rails facing the altar) on a regularly scheduled basis? Does your church have confessionals or space devoted to reconciliation to protect the privacy and anonymity of the penitent? I really think more people would avail themselves of this powerful and healing sacrament if it was more user friendly (in terms of some level of comfort and privacy for the penitent). Good video!

[ByzantineChristian]

I'm certainly thankful for the sacrament of confession. It is an awesome gift of grace! 5/5 Good Job!

[ddelray]

I doubt whether a mere human being can confer the assurance of pardon or the grace of absolution.

[CASSMAN777]

I thought you were at a church in Yonkers, NY?

[FatherMatthew]

New job. See 4 videos ago.

[sojoyful]

Is a formal confession required like in the RCC?

Do the Anglicans believe you can lose salvation?

[jedi0424]

no and no to both questions....

However, a general confession and absolution are almost always included in the Eucharistic liturgy.

[jetsetjordan]

Great work!

[Sweetkittenpie]

Like the video, interesting stuff.

[Trailbzr]

Father, good to see you're back. (I imagine you're pretty busy around Christmas.)

I see Baptism; which are the other vids about sacraments?

[FatherMatthew]

I will fill them in later, because I have a set order for the DVD (for example, Eucharist will be #2 but I'm not ready for that one yet!)

[FatherMatthew]

I know it is not the sixth video, but it will be for the upcoming DVD!