The word this week is Repentance.

We heard in the readings for the Third Sunday of Easter the call for repentance. Many times we relegate this call of  repentance to the Lenten season. But because we are struggling sinners who are saints in process, we regularly fall short of the glory of God through sin. In one since, sin is not the focus of God, his forgiving mercy is. Jesus came to reconcile us to the Father through his death on the cross. Now he offers us his grace of forgiveness and restoration.

On the cross the first words from Jesus was: “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” He knew their sin. He offered forgiveness. But the first step to experiencing this forgiveness of our sins is that of repentance. What is repentance? I can’t change what I did when I sinned, which affected my relationship with God. What I can change is the direction of my heart now. Repentance focuses on my relationship with God. I repent for acting in a way that dampened or ruptured my relationship with the One who recreated me, redeemed me and adopted me in the waters of baptism. I chose something less—here today and gone in an instant-- instead of that which is forever beneficial to me.  Repentance is the first step to reconciliation. It acknowledges my sin and my helplessness on my own to open God’s heart. But when I repent, the floodgate of his mercy flows upon me. Lord, have mercy!