A Heavenly Experience

Before every Raider Awakening (the biannual church retreat hosted by the Catholic Student Association of Texas Tech) there is a staff retreat. It is a chance for the staff to finish up last minute logistical details, to unite to pray for the retreaters, and to go to the sacrament of reconciliation. During this past staff retreat, I realized something: the faces of people who have just gone to confession are, simply put, beautiful. I watched as friends and strangers alike walked out of the make-shift confessional. Some faces were tear-stained, others couldn't stop smiling. But all had the love of God in their eyes. For it's true that these people had just confessed everything that has separated themselves from God. And the priest, acting as Christ, absolved them of their sin. Thus, they experienced the humility of their own imperfections, but then the even greater power of God's love. With that, they realized that they are free; God can conquer everything. As they left the confessional to go pray, the love of God was radiant and pouring out of them. They showed the joy and the healing of God for they had just truly encountered God's love. What a heavenly experience.