Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Casimir

 Lectionary: 348

To keep the law is a great oblation,
and he who observes the
commandments sacrifices a peace offering.
In works of charity one offers fine flour,
and when he gives alms he presents his sacrifice of praise.
To refrain from evil pleases the LORD,
and to avoid injustice is an atonement.

 L ent begins tomorrow and I have often wondered what it means to practice penance. I do not forget the stern advice of my spiritual director, several years ago: "Ken, the greatest penance is to be joyful."

Her teaching keeps me from going over the edge into scrupulosity and humorless anxiety. "Religion is for those who are afraid of going to hell; spirituality is for those who've been there." I understand that form of religion as Pharisaism, and spirituality as penance. 

The practice of Catholicism is penance. Meaning, Lent invites us to full, eager, willing practice of our Catholic faith. Those who are aged, diabetic, or otherwise disabled might do better not to fast or take on extraordinary penances; but everyone can resume the daily practices of a devout Catholic. 

Many people attend daily Mass during Lent. Some people might take up the daily recitation of the rosary; some might even recite all four sets of mysteries of the rosary -- the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious. We can always watch less TV and many of us can abstain from solitaire games and short videos that follow one after another like the cars of a train. We can read spiritual books and catch up with those Catholic magazines we've neglected. 

Twelve steppers share "How I work the Program and how the Program works for me." And their conversation is both serious and joyful. Catholics can do the same. We are grateful for this faith which connects us to faithful persons all over the earth, and with those who have witnessed that faith from ancient times until today. We can share our beliefs with those who ask, and suggest personal devotions that work for us. (e.g. "Tony, Tony, come around; something's lost and must be found!")

We can admit the wrongful attitudes we've outgrown without embarrassing anyone by disclosing confessional matters. We leave that conversation to daytime talk shows. (Do they still do that?)

Lent is a joyful following of Jesus to Calvary and Easter. How Good God is to forgive me, especially because He knows me so well! We acknowledge our desperate need for a divine. saving intervention since nothing in this world offers much hope. No party has the answer while technology marches toward Armageddon; and the climate crisis worsens, as predicted. 

We hope in the Lord; and our hope is a knowing faith that All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well.