Priscilla Bertoglio’s Reflection

Penance

We recently entered the Lenten season which is one of the most significant times of the year for many Christians around the world.  Lent is commonly regarded as a period of following serious rules and repentance. Lent invites us to prepare our minds and hearts for glorifying Jesus’ life, death and the resurrection of His body.

Lent is meant to be a time of repentance for sin. A humble understanding of the purpose of Lent is to fully recognize our weaknesses as humans. The time period of Lent allows us to reflect and withdraw from sin.

Lent and penance go together as a season of penance and not punishment. It is a season to rid ourselves from spiritual and mental guilt designed to prepare for Easter. It is based on three pillars:  prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Lenten penance is a voluntary and intentional practice to deepen our relationship with God.

The purpose of penance is intended for personal cleansing and to promote a more receptive heart for God’s grace. Penance consists of prayer or charity performed to show sorrow or regret for sins, thus asking for forgiveness or absolution to make amends for wrongdoings. The history of penance traces from early Christian (14^th century) sometimes including severe public humiliation for serious offenses against moral law, such as, murder, adultery or treason.

Penance is meant for our good. We do penance so that we can rid ourselves of the things and habits that keep us from participating in the life of God, and not so that we can be punished for our sins.  And, we do penance because we want to make more room for God in our lives. Because I was brought up in the Catholic faith, I remember those days after confession when the priest would say, “For penance say, one Our Father and three Hail Marys.”

I also remember walking away from the confessional with the feeling that my soul had been cleansed. Most of the time when we plan our Lenten rituals, we decide to give up something because we feel a bit obligated rather than seeing it as an essential part of our relationship with God. I myself am guilty of this tradition.  I am addicted to sugar, so I give up eating and drinking all sweets.  And even though it causes me a lot of “suffering” in those 40 days, more importantly it calls me to reflect on my relationship with the Lord.

Many people believe that penance is only practiced in the Catholic religion. However, penance outside Catholicism generally emphasizes direct, personal reconciliation as a way to renew one’s relationship with God rather than structured sacramental confession. Practices include Orthodox “metanoia” (inner transformation), Protestant prayer/fasting, Jewish teshuvah (returning to God), and Islamic repentance seeking divine mercy.

I believe that God wants us to be joyful during Lent. He wants us to experience simple joys — whether it be viewing a breathtaking sunset, a colorful rainbow after a storm, the surprised look on your grandson’s face after he makes a basket, or bicycling through the wind as the sun gently glows upon your face. Then spend a quiet afternoon listening to Josh Groban or Andrea Bocelli and feel God’s presence surround you.

May your Lent be filled with joy and your penance be meaningful!