2026 Daily Lenten Journey Day 24 – Regret VS Shame

Yesterday I wrote about loyalty and faithfulness. It is out of loyalty that we read the daily readings from Scriptures. Today it is faithfulness that inspires us. We must ask ourselves ‘why’ the Church selects these particular readings during Great Lent.

Every day we read about God’s wrath on those who sin, and God’s mercy on those who repent. If we are honest we ourselves we are both the sinners and those who repent. Readings as we do these weeks is supposed to inspire us toward repentance. Has it worked yet?

Take a moment and read below and ask yourself this. “Am I a sinner destined for destruction, or am I repenting headed for God’s mercy?” Then come back and I’ll share my ‘take’ on the readings for today.

For behold, the LORD is coming forth out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed upon her, and will no more cover her slain. In that day the LORD with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea. In that day: “A pleasant vineyard, sing of it! I, the LORD, am its keeper; every moment I water it. Lest any one harm it, I guard it night and day; I have no wrath. Would that I had thorns and briers to battle! I would set out against them, I would burn them up together. Or let them lay hold of my protection, let them make peace with me, let them make peace with me.” In days to come Jacob shall take root, Israel shall blossom and put forth shoots, and fill the whole world with fruit. Has he smitten them as he smote those who smote them? Or have they been slain as their slayers were slain? Measure by measure, by exile thou didst contend with them; he removed them with his fierce blast in the day of the east wind. Therefore by this the guilt of Jacob will be expiated, and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin: when he makes all the stones of the altars like chalkstones crushed to pieces, no Asherim or incense altars will remain standing. – Isaiah 26.21-27.9

The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah; and from these the whole earth was peopled. Noah was the first tiller of the soil. He planted a vineyard; and he drank of the wine, and became drunk, and lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it upon both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, he said, “Cursed be Canaan; a slave of slaves shall he be to his brothers.” He also said, “Blessed by the LORD my God be Shem; and let Canaan be his slave. God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem; and let Canaan be his slave.” After the flood Noah lived three hundred and fifty years. All the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died. These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth; sons were born to them after the flood. – Genesis 9.18-10.1

A prudent man conceals his knowledge, but fools proclaim their folly. The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor. Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. A righteous man turns away from evil, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. A slothful man will not catch his prey, but the diligent man will get precious wealth. In the path of righteousness is life, but the way of error leads to death. A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. From the fruit of his mouth a good man eats good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence. He who guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. The soul of the sluggard craves, and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. A righteous man hates falsehood, but a wicked man acts shamefully and disgracefully. Righteousness guards him whose way is upright, but sin overthrows the wicked. One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth, but a poor man has no means of redemption. The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out. – Proverbs 12.23-13.9

Hearing confession as I have done for so many years, I am blessed to witness hearts opening to God’s mercy. Something happens in their hearts that eventually brings people to God. Many people struggle between regretting their behavior and feeling ashamed of it.

Today we heard how Noah was drunk and got angry at his sons for covering him. His shame kept him from being grateful that his sons considered their father’s dignity. If he had regretted his drunkenness, he would have been thankful. Can you sense the difference?

Regret leads us to repentance. Shame leads us to irrational response. Shame sends us into darkness where we hide from God. Regret opens our hearts to admit our mistakes and seek God’s forgiveness. Regret is good. I’m not too sure about shame.

Shame ‘could’ lead us to repentance if our hearts are ‘tuned in’ to God. My experience has been that shame keeps us from God. Shame keeps us home on Sunday morning. Shame closes our eyes to God’s mercy. Shame locks our hearts, keeping pain inside and healing outside.

Bringing it back to faithfulness. It is our faithfulness to God that allows our hearts to regret but repent. It is mere loyalty that causes shame to embarrass us into remaining home instead of coming to God’s Church for healing.

So, if you are regretting your sins today, I pray you read this reflection with an open heart. It is good to regret sin, but don’t be ashamed of it ‘enough’ to keep you from God’s mercy and forgiveness.

If you doubt God’s mercy, go back and read the opening verses from Isaiah. Would God keep watering His vineyard if He was going to abandon it to sin? Have a blessed repentance and a productive Great Lent, what’s left of it.

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