I do a lot of freelance writing for non-profit organizations and, frequently, while attending brainstorming sessions, I will hear the phrase "We need to 'Think Outside the Box' on this one."
"Thinking Outside the Box" has become a mantra for Americans. It means to conceive ideas that are not commonplace; to one-up the competition with original creativity; to find a new path to profit that has yet to be exploited in the marketplace.
In fact our society is obsessed with "Thinking Outside the Box." People continually search for new ways to entertain themselves, to feed themselves, to exercise themselves, to justify themselves, all with the maxim that it has to feel good and require minimal effort. This attitude drives our lifestyles, our politics and our very economy. In a nation founded on freedom — today defined as license — "Thinking Outside the Box" is praiseworthy conduct no matter what the cost. You might say we're hell-bent on it.
As Catholics, we are once again called to contradict secular society. Our faith requires us to Think Inside the Box: the confessional. The very thought of admitting guilt and portraying ourselves at our worst is unnerving, even frightening, and there are plenty of reasons to stay Outside the Box as so many people do. But more than a pious act, this valuable sacrament, when used frequently, becomes a daily attitude. An attitude that changes the way we think about ourselves and about others.
Catholics who regularly attend confession heighten their awareness of their own sins. It's like exercising a spiritual muscle: the more you use it, the more capable it becomes. Most of us struggle with the same sins over and over again, such as pride, resentment, lack of charity, gossiping, being judgmental of others, etc. By regular examination of our consciences we learn to call our sins by their proper names, to understand why they are an offense to God, and to own up to them freely. It becomes a challenge to get the best of our sins and experience small successes. Like balancing a checkbook, if we do it regularly there are fewer mistakes. (If we leave it too long we start bouncing checks all over town.)
With frequent confession Catholics begin to recognize how our personal sins injure the Body of Christ, and we take increasing responsibility for our own behavior within the Universal Church. Part of this responsibility is the practice of forgiveness and mercy towards others. What better place to learn these virtues than with Christ Himself, Inside the Box? The confessional cultivates an attitude of humility as we strive to see ourselves as God sees us; of generosity as we experience His forgiveness no matter how we have sinned; and of faith-based hope as we leave fortified with the graces of the sacrament. We leave the Inside of the Box cleansed and strengthened.
Confession is so spiritually valuable that modern society has been unable to ignore it. Instead, they pervert it. Modern psychoanalysis places particular emphasis on self-examination and oral "confession," while discarding any religious element. Television talk shows boost their ratings with on-air confessions. Thanks to the iIternet you can confess your sins online for free, or read the confessions of others for a charge (now there's an entrepreneur who is really Thinking Outside the Box). You can even confess your "carbon sins" to a Canadian environmental group who will issue your penance: the purchase of carbon "offsets" to make up for your offenses.
Anthropologists have studied native tribes who send sinful offenders out to a Confession Tree in order to unburden their consciences. Other cultures symbolically burn, drown and throw their sins off high peaks to find a fresh start.
So our human need to recognize our sins and seek forgiveness is universal. How wonderful that Christ provided for it! Following His Resurrection, He appeared to His Apostles, the first priests, and instituted the sacrament precisely for the forgiveness of our sins: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive men's sins, they are forgiven them; if you hold them bound, they are held bound" (John 20: 22-23). On the cross three days prior, Jesus forgave all sins; then in the sacrament of penance He personalized that mercy, giving us the assurance that His forgiveness was not just a general absolution but a living grace available to us throughout our earthly journey.
We need confession like we need fresh air to breathe. Sin suffocates us. As long as we sin, which will until we die, we need confession.
So while America is called to Run on DunkinTM, Catholics are called to run on God's grace and mercy. Think Inside the Box and get to confession this Lent.
