Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time

Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.

Very early in their history, when Saint Francis of Assisi had only a few followers and still wondered what God had in store for him, the group set out to share the wonders they had found. They split up and set off in four different directions. But just before they left someone asked their Leader, “When people ask who are you, what should we tell them?”

After some prayer, thought and discussion, they settled on “Penitents from Assisi.”

At the time there were still some “penitents” in the Church. Traditionally these were people who had committed serious sins that were known to everyone: adultery, murder or apostasy. They had repented and wanted to return to full membership in the Church, but the Church hesitated to welcome them. Are they really sorry? Have they changed? If we let them return will that suggest to our young people their sins are not really serious?

In ancient times the Church resolved the issue by allowing these people to attend church as penitents. They might have worn sack cloth and ashes, or shackles. They might have stood apart in the church; they did not receive Eucharist. At some later date – sometimes on their deathbed -- they might be welcomed back into full communion with the saints.

As the practice was still extent but fading, Francis and his brothers called themselves “Penitents from Assisi.” The name still carried shame, humiliation and disapproval. Given the joyousness of those early days and the mischief typical of young men, they probably announced their new name with laughter; and older, staid Christians wondered “Now what?”

Francis and Clare and their followers reminded the Church we are all sinners and we must all repent. “Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.” The gift of penance sets us apart from everyone who thinks they are especially blessed or favored, be they rich or poor, beautiful or ugly, popular or despised.

In the Bible, King David seems to be the first true penitent. His psalm 51 describes a man who knows he has done wrong and has no excuse. He has committed murder and adultery. As a king and warrior he could get away with this behavior; but before God he is cursed. When God punished him he had no recourse but to penance, accepting his punishment and asking for forgiveness.

Three thousand years later we sometimes take forgiveness for granted. “Of course God will forgive me. That’s what God does!” In the confessional I do not hesitate to assure penitents they are forgiven, but many dismiss even the rite of penance. Indeed, it seems like such a quick and easy ritual, often lasting no more than a few minutes, we wonder if it’s necessary.

And yet if we dismiss the virtue of penance, we compromise our identity as Christians. We are no different than criminals who oppress, exploit and abuse with impunity. We must recognize our sins and our tendencies to sin -- and their Enormity. We must confess, “I have no excuse. What I have done is inexcusable!”

We must see clearly how this evil participates in and adds to the evil that threatens life itself. It continues to starve the hungry, strip the naked, sicken the ill, and condemn the innocent. I may do nothing more serious than look at lewd pictures in the privacy of my room, but by so doing I have contributed to an industry that destroys tens of thousands of women and men and condemns yet-unborn children to a life of misery. It continues to crucify Jesus and to torment the people whom Jesus loves.

The virtue of penance teaches me to accept the pure and beautiful love of Jesus who forgives me although I do not deserve to be forgiven. It gives me the courage to suppress those habits and reject those temptations, including and perhaps most especially the temptation to make excuses! There is no need for excuses in the sight of God.

Blessed is the one whose fault is taken away,

whose sin is covered.

Blessed the man to whom the Lord imputes not guilt,

in whose spirit there is no guile.