Positive Penance
By Colette Lemire
Our Lenten Journey of 2015 begins… and we are required, as Roman Catholics, to do three special things during this Liturgical Season: we must fast, we must pray and we must give alms. When we do these three things, we will be reminded daily who we are and who we rely on; our focus is Jesus.
I would like to try, this Lenten Season, to look at penance in a different manner. When I think of penance, a definite feeling of foreboding encompasses me and it’s almost as if I have done something very wrong and must be punished. Penance really should not look this way, it should be a welcome opportunity to heal, to feel a cleansing of my heart and soul and my attention should be on being closer to Jesus. I need to remember that he died and suffered for me, therefore, if I love my fellow neighbour (and myself), then I should be willing to suffer in some way. For example, I am somewhat impatient with bad driving. Rather than feel the rage, why wouldn’t I offer up a prayer (Hail Mary) so that they would remain safe. Loving our neighbour is at times a big challenge, a penance all in and of itself. Maybe we can take this a few steps further…
IDEAS FOR POSITIVE PENANCE
-shovel your neighbour’s sidewalk (both sides)
-send a card and/or note inspiring someone who may need encouragement
-pray for someone in the parish, especially someone whom you’ve noticed struggling or who seems lonely
-smile at everyone, at every opportunity (this will benefit everyone!)
-offer up the Mass for someone hurting
-bring a coffee/tea to someone unexpectedly
-bake a few dozen cookies for a family
-pray your Rosary/Divine Mercy Chaplet and offer it up for a special intention
-give extra money to the Youth Fund – maybe the equivalent of coffee for a week (this sharing goes towards many young people)
There are so many more ideas! These are only a few. The main purpose is to think about sharing something of you with someone else – going that extra mile for the love of your neighbour. Let’s incorporate as many acts of kindness as we can this Lent. This might sound like the popular phenomenon of “Paying It Forward,” however this differs in my opinion, in that it is sharing in a manner that we are aware of following God’s commandment to love one another. We are physically requiring of ourselves to do something for someone else. Challenge yourself to a kindness every day!
Upon further reflection, this type of self-giving involves prayer, fasting (from your own selfishness) and almsgiving (not of money but of self). I struggle with giving money because my means are quite limited, but I know and trust that I can do more; I can deny myself in so many other ways. I can definitely try to live my Lent in a manner focused on Jesus and loving my neighbour.
I would like to try, this Lenten Season, to look at penance in a different manner. When I think of penance, a definite feeling of foreboding encompasses me and it’s almost as if I have done something very wrong and must be punished. Penance really should not look this way, it should be a welcome opportunity to heal, to feel a cleansing of my heart and soul and my attention should be on being closer to Jesus. I need to remember that he died and suffered for me, therefore, if I love my fellow neighbour (and myself), then I should be willing to suffer in some way. For example, I am somewhat impatient with bad driving. Rather than feel the rage, why wouldn’t I offer up a prayer (Hail Mary) so that they would remain safe. Loving our neighbour is at times a big challenge, a penance all in and of itself. Maybe we can take this a few steps further…
IDEAS FOR POSITIVE PENANCE
-shovel your neighbour’s sidewalk (both sides)
-send a card and/or note inspiring someone who may need encouragement
-pray for someone in the parish, especially someone whom you’ve noticed struggling or who seems lonely
-smile at everyone, at every opportunity (this will benefit everyone!)
-offer up the Mass for someone hurting
-bring a coffee/tea to someone unexpectedly
-bake a few dozen cookies for a family
-pray your Rosary/Divine Mercy Chaplet and offer it up for a special intention
-give extra money to the Youth Fund – maybe the equivalent of coffee for a week (this sharing goes towards many young people)
There are so many more ideas! These are only a few. The main purpose is to think about sharing something of you with someone else – going that extra mile for the love of your neighbour. Let’s incorporate as many acts of kindness as we can this Lent. This might sound like the popular phenomenon of “Paying It Forward,” however this differs in my opinion, in that it is sharing in a manner that we are aware of following God’s commandment to love one another. We are physically requiring of ourselves to do something for someone else. Challenge yourself to a kindness every day!
Upon further reflection, this type of self-giving involves prayer, fasting (from your own selfishness) and almsgiving (not of money but of self). I struggle with giving money because my means are quite limited, but I know and trust that I can do more; I can deny myself in so many other ways. I can definitely try to live my Lent in a manner focused on Jesus and loving my neighbour.