I look to the other side of the sanctuary and noticed a Carmelite nun in line for Confession as well.

I couldn't help but think of  the classic Fulton Sheen line, "Hearing nuns confess is like getting stoned to death with popcorn" and laughing internally.  

I refocused on my preparation, as the line moved forward and I was next. 

After a short while, I see the door opening to the sacristy, where they have been holding Confessions because of social distancing. 

The woman who went before me leaves.  I walked in and quickly see an elderly priest, who is not one of our regular parish clergy but occasionally celebrates Mass and helps out during Confessions, sitting about six feet away from a kneeler and a chair.  The priest must be in his late 80's to mid 90's.

I kneel before him and start, "Bless me father for I have sinned, it has been two months since my last Confession, since then, I have... " and began going through my list of sins.  After getting through my most grievous faults, I noticed that he is closing his eyes.  I continue but, after several more minutes, start wondering whether he is falling asleep.  Is he falling asleep on me?  Am I boring him? Is he just too old for this?  My mind was racing while I kept talking about my transgressions. 

Finally, I decide to stop digging deeper, although I was basically done, and ended it with, "For these and any other sins I may have committed and can't remember, I ask for forgiveness."

There was a brief pause and I wasn't sure if I was going to have to wake him.  After a few seconds, he opened his eyes and asked me to pray the Act of Contrition, gave me absolution and told me to read and meditate on the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5, 6 and 7 for my penance.

I thanked him and, as always, went away feeling amazing.  

I start to make my way out, stopped to say hello to a friend and then noticed the nun was getting closer on her side, which was with another priest.  I also noticed our pastor was kneeling before the altar, getting ready for the Benediction and repose of the Blessed Sacrament, so I decided to stay.

As I was in a pew, joining in the prayers of the Benediction and reflecting on my experience with the elderly priest, I realized that, after hearing dozens of confessions that morning, maybe it was me that was stoning him with popcorn. 

Then again, because of human nature, I can only imagine most Confessions probably start sounding alike, depending on sex of the penitent and their stage in life, especially for a priest who has been ordained for over sixty or seventy years!  

So while our popcorn may not be as benign as a nun's popcorn.  After a while, it may start sounding like popcorn anyway.  

There is no sin a priest with some experience hasn't heard.  And, there is no sin greater than God's love for us.  While the details may vary from person to person, they all come down to offenses to the Ten Commandments, which are the barriers, as our former pastor would say, that safeguard us from falling into perdition.

Fortunately, Christ gave us the priesthood and gave them the power to forgive and retain sins (John 20:23), so whether they are elderly or newly ordained, sleepy or wide awake, holy or sinful themselves, God uses them to convey His mercy and forgiveness...