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January 27, 2008: Third Sunday in
Ordinary Time
If
you were to look in a common dictionary for the definition of the word
repentance, you would probably find that it means deep sorrow,
compunction, or contrition for a past sin or wrongdoing. It would also
include mention of regret for any past action.
On the surface all this
appears to work but too often it does not. True repentance involves going
below the surface of our lives and relationships and taking a close look at
what lies deep within us, into that which causes darkness in our lives.
This is hard work. It is emotional and difficult but it is necessary work
if we are going to allow the light of Christ to shine deep from within us
for others to encounter and experience.
Authentic
conversion to which we are all called requires deep reflection and
contemplation. The good news is that we do not have to do this important work
alone. Our Lord is truly with us and through the Holy Spirit we can experience
his abundant love, mercy and forgiveness.
Today we hear Jesus repeat John the Baptist’s call of repentance. This call
from Jesus means to make a change in the direction we are heading by making an
authentic change of heart, mind, understanding and practice. The love of Christ
is so real and so profound that he calls each of us to repentance and
conversion.Each of us has been called by Jesus, "I have called you by name, you are
mine…you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you." (Is 43) Jesus
calls and loves us so much that we too must walk away from less important things
of our earthly life to be an authentic follower of Jesus.
Today we are called to repent and to live out a particular lifestyle. It is
the foundation of our Catholic identity. Worshiping with fellow disciples of
our Lord is important but it also means that between Masses we are called to be
different as a result of being in communion with God. By name we are called to see Christ in each person we encounter. We are
called to
reconcile those hidden secrets of the past and present that hold us down or set
us back. We are called to exchange our hurts and offenses for compassion and
mercy and peace.
To live in authentic communion means we live authentic lives rightly ordered
to God and his ways. This requires the hard yet necessary work of repentance to which our Lord calls each of us by name.
With faith, hope and love,
Father
Steven C. Rogers
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