Sunshine Cathedral Blog

“Divine Life destroys death, Truth destroys error, and Love destroys hate. Being destroyed, sin needs no other form of forgiveness.” Marry Baker Eddy

Lent is traditionally a “penitential” season, but if we take penance to mean simply feeling ashamed and guilty for previous mistakes, then does it really serve much purpose? And, if penance is merely claiming to be sorry for things we actually enjoyed but feel we “should” be sorry for, isn’t that even less meaningful? The penance that helps us isn’t false shame, or even honest regret. We don’t become better by punishing ourselves or by feeling lowly. The penance that is life-giving is repentance, which isn’t sorrow, but change. If we haven’t been generous, then let’s start being generous! If we haven’t been kind, then let’s be kind. If we haven’t been concerned with justice for all people, then let’s get to work. This change of attitude, change of direction is what will lead us back to the truth of our goodness, and as we live in the power of our innate goodness, the world around us will be blessed as well. Atonement isn’t punishment for error; it is turning away from error so that we realize our At-one-ment with the divine.