In the last of the original Indiana Jones trilogy, the one with Sean Connery in it, Harrison Ford’s Indiana had to overcome a number of tests towards the end of the film to get to the site of the holy grail.

The first I seem to remember involves penitence. You will have to bear with me, I am tempted to watch the film just to check. Yes, Indiana remembers just in time to prostrate himself before he is decapitated.

It made for a good movie, but perhaps it misses the point of penitence. There have been times that I have laid prostrate before God, even quite recently, and no doubt will do so again. It can be quite a cathartic experience.

That said, penitence is about embracing forgiveness as well as sorrow and reconciliation. Reconciliation and forgiveness can easily be done on the ground.

Slowly, cautiously, humbly, the penitent must stand and feel the caress of the divine upon their cheeks, and then begin to walk again.