Msg Base:  AREA 3  - ASK FATHER (AMDG)
  Msg No: 142.  Wed 11-11-92 21:07  (NO KILL)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Rick Mansfield
 Subject: Penance

ÚÄ
³ Fr. Mateo,
³
³ Just curious as to what translation of the Bible you are using.  In
³ reponse to Joey Kenedy on the subject, "School Uniforms, etc." you quoted
³ from Luke 13:3 (or 13:5) in answer to his question about abstinance from
³ meat on Fridays.
³
³ Your translation read "Unless you do penance, you will all likewise
³ perish."
³
³ The Greek for what you have translated "penance" is "metanoeo" which
³ according to the Bauer-Arndt-Gingrich Greek-English Lexicon, means "feel
³ remorse, repent, or be converted.
³
³ Using the phrase "do penance" makes a big difference in the interpretation
³ of this verse, and seems to me to be difficult to justify based on the
³ meaning of the word.
³
³ Sincerely,
³
³ Rick Mansfield
³
ÀÄ[RM=>FM]
 
Dear Rick,
 
You are quite right about "metanoeo".  Strictly interpreted, it
refers to a change of mind.
 
The English word "penance" seems to evoke something more physical and
painful.
 
We believe that the two concepts must coalesce in the actual Christian
life.  Hence our ordinary speech allows us to say, "I'm abstaining
from candy as a penance."  The abstinence is undertaken as a testing
and strengthening of the will, a desire to suffer something for the
love of Christ, an effect of the interior transformation which is
"metanoia", and a help in our effort to achieve that transformation
with the help of God's grace.
 
Perhaps, I should have illustrated Friday Lenten abstinence from
meat, not by Luke 13:3,5, but by 1st Cor. 9:27: "I pommel my body and
subdue it...." or by Matt. 16:24: "If any man wants to come after me,
let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
 
                                        Sincerely in Christ,
 
                                                Father Mateo
 
***  Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full. ***