Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

This weekend we will hear the opening words of Jesus’ preaching as he began his public ministry in the Gospel of Matthew. The first word of that preaching will be the command, “Repent!” The same command will feature strongly in Jesus’ first preaching in the Gospel of Mark. In this context, I have a confession to make. When I saw Jesus’ first command in the gospel for this weekend, I felt a little dread come over me. Isn’t repentance a big Lenten theme? Can’t we wait for Lent to begin before we get into the business of repentance?

Well, no; we cannot and should not wait for Lent to come before we think of repentance. It was one of the very first things Jesus said as he began his public ministry, so it’s important for us at all times. This repentance (“metanoia” in the Greek text) is not simply regret for something bad that we have done. It is a fundamental change of heart and mind, turning away from sin and turning towards Christ.

All of this causes me to ask myself: “What am I called to repent for today?” There will always be an answer to that question for all of us, because we are sinners. That’s not “Catholic guilt” speaking; it is a statement of fact because none of us is perfect. The good news is that the Son of God came to the world specifically for us. He said, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mk. 2:17)

Sometimes when people speak of “conversion” in the religious sense, it seems like their conversion was a single and singular event; a “one and done” kind of thing. However, if you Google the phrase “ongoing conversion,” you will find an incredible number of links that will take you to some really good articles (mostly from Catholic sources, as it turns out) explaining how and why conversion is a lifelong process of turning to the Lord. Throughout our lives we are called to follow the Lord more and more closely. This implies turning away from any actions, habits, or attitudes that are obstacles to holiness. In a word, it implies repentance.

Many years ago, I came across an interesting statement in my reading. It said, “Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you’re alive, it isn’t.” Our mission is conversion and repentance. And life can be an awesome adventure if we take that mission to heart.

Blessings,

Fr. Philip