It seems odd to me that the disciples of Jesus of Nazareth alive today feel that He wants us to mortify ourselves and suffer. We have plenty stories about how He was asked to pull men and women out of their suffering and how promptly He did it.

Among the most striking is the story of Bartimaeus. Born blind, he always sat roadside, begging. Suddenly, there was a commotion and When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mk.10:47).

Many there wanted him to shut up; no Jesus, who  had mercy on him, humbly applying folk-medicine by making a mud paste and anointing Bartimaeus’ eyes with it. Then Jesus sent him off to wash in the Pool of Siloam. Bartimaeus washed and Bartimaeus could see for the first time, ever. 

Washing in the Pool of Siloam was not a penance. The Pool, Jesus knew and Bartimaeus knew, was acknowledged as a healing wash. It’s this that we ought to cling to when we feel that we need to punish ourselves and be miserable in the sight of our God.

We need to keep what Jesus said about Himself and His mission:  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (Jn.15:11) What Jesus taught His disciples did not add up to punishing ourselves. It added up to being almost compelled to tell everyone around that Jesus Christ is Lord, merciful, kind, healing, always there.

We’ll do some disciplinary penances during Lent with the whole Church. That’s doing what Jesus did—though the Pharisees complained that He used common sense when obeying the Law.  But we live happy because the joy has nothing to do with consumerism, wealth, or power. It’s based on Jesus Christ. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

As for penance, if I’m not happy and joyful, whose problem is that?  Who needs to take care of that?