Penance: Not Just for Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday = penance, right? At least this is what most Catholics think about penance. But penance means conversion, and conversion is not reserved for Ash Wednesday.

Are you trying to get closer to God? You are doing penance.

Are you trying to figure out if there is a God? You are doing penance.

Are you praying and working to eliminate some sin or fault from your life? You are doing penance.

Penance means conversion, that is, doing things God's way instead of our own way, and that does not happen only on Ash Wednesday, or at least it should not!

If you are not doing penance, it means that you are standing still in the spiritual life, and that is not an acceptable stance. When we stand still, we can easily be blown backwards by misfortune, disaster, setback, doubt, illness, death, loss, and a host of other sufferings that come to us in this life. When we are moving forward in the spiritual life, we have momentum to deal with the blows that come. Think of it this way, if you are outdoors in stormy weather and strong wind, if you try to stand still, the force of the wind can push you backwards. However, if you are plowing into the wind, pulling strongly with your legs against the blows, you will move forward even if slowly.

So what storm is in your life today? Are you moving forward in penance (conversion) or are you standing still just trying to weather it? Bundle up in the virtues of God's love and press on because strength lies in the movement toward God. Penance means ongoing conversion, not just ashes-on-the-forehead-one-day-out-of-the-year conversion. That storm you are going through right now is intended to help you move forward in penance (conversion). Ask God's grace to help you take advantage of it!