Why doesnt Jesus explicitly give penance

[GRod]

Does anyone have an explanation as to why Jesus doesnt explicitly give penance? I see he always forgives with no penance attached.

 

[Zaccheus]

Can you tell us why you think He should have done so?

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

One can argue that his counsel to the rich young man was a penance. And Zacchaeus told Jesus how he would repent, so while Jesus did not give a penance, Zaccheaus almost certainly did perform one.

 

[GRod]

Im not saying he should have done so…he is God who am i to say what he should do, but i hear protestants say that penance is not required because Jesus never gave anyone penance. I am Catholic and am trying to understand penance. And how we know God still requires penance. It would be realy helpful if i read about Jesus giving penance to someone explicitly.

 

[John_Martin]

sure he gave penance

1. Go, sell all you have, give to the poor, and come follow me.
2. Go, show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them
3. “Follow me” (to Levi)
4. Pick up your bed and walk
5. Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you

And also this can be inferred though not quoted, such as when Zacchaeus described the content his doing of penance.

I am not typing quickly enough and Xanthippe_Voorhees has said it already.

Most people know what doing penance should entail, and that assigned by a priest is only a small portion of a life of doing penance - when John the Baptist described it to three groups of people, he expected constant performance of love of neighbor, constant doing of penance, not a simple gesture.

 

[GRod]

Ok. That makes sence. Sometimes i feel Protestants want the easy way out…it feels man pleasing…its easy and immature to not do penance…i know God wants to teach us a leasson and mature…he does this with love and not hate…that is just my opinion though

 

[Gorgias]

Does anyone have an explanation as to why Jesus doesnt explicitly give penance? I see he always forgives with no penance attached.

Umm… maybe because Jesus wasn’t performing the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

 

[Vico]

Does anyone have an explanation as to why Jesus doesnt explicitly give penance? I see he always forgives with no penance attached.

Luke 13

1 AND there were present, at that very time, some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answering, said to them: Think you that these Galileans were sinners above all the men of Galilee, because they suffered such things? 3 No, I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen upon whom the tower fell in Siloe, and slew them: think you, that they also were debtors above all the men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 No, I say to you; but except you do penance, you shall all likewise perish.

Matthew 11

20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein were done the most of his miracles, for that they had not done penance. 21 Woe to thee, Corozain, woe to thee, Bethsaida: for if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in you, they had long ago done penance in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou Capharnaum, shalt thou be exalted up to heaven? thou shalt go down even unto hell. For if in Sodom had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in thee, perhaps it had remained unto this day. 24 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

 

[paperwight]

OP, is there perhaps some confusion here between 'a ’ penance, i.e. the prayer or something given by the priest after sacramental Confession, and ‘penance’ in the sense of self-inflicted self-denial like fasting, almsgiving etc.?

 

[GRod]

I have read these translations before but the original text does not read “do penance” it reads “repent”. Cant one repent without doing penance?

 

[GRod]

I would say either panance. I dont see Jesus explicitly giving penance…he just forgives. I have heard that the old testament required penance…but because jesus didnt require it it is no longer required.

 

[1neophyte]

Have you considered the possibility that Jesus said things that were not recorded in the Gospels? What is your endgame here? Are you trying to get out of doing penance?

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

Have you considered the possibility that Jesus said things that were not recorded in the Gospels? What is your endgame here? Are you trying to get out of doing penance?

I think the OP was pretty clear by his second post that they were struggling with protestant/secular rebuffs of Catholic practices. If you have never been challenged by a protestant you might not understand how dang annoying it can be and how needing an answer becomes very important because they just. don’t. let. it. go.

 

[GRod]

No I’m not trying to get out of doing penance. I would just like to see strong evidence for what i am doing is right. Biblical reference would be appreciated.

 

[GRod]

Lol…yea pretty much

 

[Vico]

I have read these translations before but the original text does not read “do penance” it reads “repent”. Cant one repent without doing penance?

The word metanoia implies both interior conversion and subsequent exterior acts, for Jesus tells us to repent and sin no more and that we should produce fruit worthy of repentance (penance). We must be reconciled with each other.

Matthew 5:24

24 Leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother: and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift. 25 Be at agreement with thy adversary betimes, whilst thou art in the way with him: lest perhaps the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence till thou repay the last farthing.

Matthew 3:8

• DRC: Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance.
• KJV: Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
• RSVCE: Bear fruit that befits repentance
• NABRE: Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.

Catchism 1473 (excerpt)

He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the “old man” and to put on the “new man.” 84
84 Eph 4:22, 24.

Ephesians 4:

22 To put off, according to former conversation, the old man, who is corrupted according to the desire of error.
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind:
24 And put on the new man, who according to God is created in justice and holiness of truth.

 

[Blue_Horizon]

I dont think some of those run as penances. Counsels are not penances.

 

[Blue_Horizon]

More interesting still is why he forgives when people do not even explicitly express remorse or contrtion.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

More interesting still is why he forgives when people do not even explicitly express remorse or contrtion.

Well…Jesus had the ability to look into people’s hearts that the majority of modern priests do not so we cannot take this on face value alone.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

Well if you are going to end all rational conversation with the God can do whatever he likes card why not apply that to the other question.?

Clearly Jesus also knows what restitution these people intend so there is no reason to suggest anything.

But if you want a rational conversation I am willing to investigate further with you.

You’re getting real close to a personal attack.

Because we are fallen humans we must use different rules and different resources than Jesus had at His ready. Priests, like Padre Pio, who could see souls, often approached confession in an entirely different way than a priest who could not.

Jesus gave the power of Confession to St. Peter “whatever you bind on Earth will be bound in Heaven…” and this includes the right to have the person make up for their sins in this life.

It’s not illogical to state that different rules applied to Jesus, especially since many of the times He forgave sins the people basically gave themselves penance because they knew that He could see their hearts.