We are confronted daily with the option to change from old ways to new ways in the face of new realities. The Christian life is a new life and entry into it requires a total turning from the old way of living. This is what repentance means. Jesus begins his ministry by calling people to repentance. In that call, he presupposes that all who answer feel the need for a change in their lifestyle. In deciding to follow Jesus, two important attitudes are paramount. The first is recognizing oneself as a sinner and the second is recognizing one’s need of God’s guidance for a successful new life. These two attitudes come to the forefront in the readings of today.
Recognizing Oneself as a Sinner
Today’s reading from Luke’s Gospel presents this invigorating statement of Jesus: “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). This powerful statement encourages all who are discouraged by their weakness and sin that there is still hope. The call of Jesus is, no doubt, directed to all humanity because the Bible itself says that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Rom 3:23). The Bible also tells us that if we say we have no sin we only deceive ourselves and by that call God a liar (1 John 1:8-10).
However, Jesus came into contact with people who felt they were already righteous and needed no change but, instead, ridiculed others as sinners. Just as we find in the call of Levi (Matthew) in today’s Gospel, such people criticize Jesus for welcoming sinners and dining with them. Jesus makes it clear to them that one must feel one’s inadequacy as a sinner in order to answer his call. It is not a call to those who feel there is nothing to change in their lives but a summons to all who really want to change. Only in humble acknowledgement of one’s sinfulness and weakness can one decide to begin a journey of repentance.
This journey involves a radical change of lifestyle, as the oracle in Isaiah 58:6-9 proposes: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, to break every yoke, to share one’s bread with the hungry, to bring the homeless poor into one’s house; to cover the naked, and not to hide oneself from one’s own kin, to remove chains, to avoid false accusation and malicious speech.
Recognizing One’s Need of God’s Guidance
Repentance is not just a remorse for sin but a conscious decision to change one’s mode of thinking and mode of living. Such change requires a guide. The Psalmist of Psalm 86 identifies this guide as God Himself: “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name” (Ps 86:11). Repentance involves following the way of God, and only God Himself can show us His way. That is why the call for repentance by Jesus involves following him as teacher and guide, as he is the way, the truth, and the life.
We live in a society that presents many teachers and false moral guides and these often make it difficult for people to follow the way of Jesus coherently. The consequence is that we still find ourselves enveloped in darkness, confusion and depression. It demands courage to recognize that we are on the wrong path and begin to follow the right path by following Jesus who invites us to a life of love, forgiveness and peace.
Beautifully stated and simply relatable. By acknowledging then adapting to change when we go on the wrong path.
Padre, I would like to thank all who come from Africa to inspire the West in Faith, in Hope and in Love for Christ, Our Savior and GOD Almighty, Our Father. when I was little in a catholic school a long time ago, the 60’s in a small town in the USA, I would scare at a picture, a nun had on the wall of Africans being hung on a cross. I asked her about who they were and why. and she told be that they were Catholics that would not forsake their Faith when another group came in and these men were given a chose to convert to them or die. she did not tell me who they were but I later found out that the murdering gangs were. they were Muslims. She also told me that Africa was one for the first places were the apostle went and India as while as the Middle East spread HIS CHURCH and HIS WORD and that I will see a time when men in this area of the world will be lost and in darkness and these people will inspire us and come and give us the faith again. I see it more and more reading about the Africans now diving for heir faith as well as those in the Middle East and encountering men like you who come with a deep faith. thank you for we so need you.