From the very start of his earthly ministry, Jesus preached for repentance – the ongoing call to conversion of heart – as we turn from our sins and embrace our lives for the Lord.
Mass Readings – Monday after Epiphany
***************
Tag Archives: Repent
Daily Mass: Repent! The Kingdom of God is at hand! Catholic Inspiration
Daily Mass: The sadness that comes from our sins. Catholic Inspiration
As Jesus looks upon the city of Jerusalem, he weeps for the destruction that will come. May the Lord’s sorrow for our sins move us to repent of the evil in our hearts.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 33rd Week of the Year
***************
Daily Mass: Heaven rejoices when we repent. Catholic Inspiration
Jesus offers two parables to illustrate how Heaven rejoices when we repent, revealing the positive power of this critical component of our Christian life.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 31st Week of the Year
***************
Daily Mass: The crucial need to repent of our sins. Catholic Inspiration
Jesus reminds us with a number of examples and a parables to repent of our sins and turn to God.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 29th Week of the Year
***************
Daily Mass: Who needs a sign when we have Jesus Christ? Catholic Inspiration
Jesus makes it clear that no special signs will be given to the people, for they have something greater than any prophet or miracle. They have the Son of God!
Mass Reading – Monday of the 28th Week of the Year
***************
Daily Mass: Christ is our strength. Catholic Inspiration
Christ’s victory through His death and resurrection on the Cross inspires our response to repent of our sins.
Mass Readings – Monday of the 16th Week of the Year
***************
Daily Mass: St. Peter preaches repentance. Catholic Inspiration
St. Peter exhorts the crowd to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. We hear these words in this Easter season because repentance is an ongoing part of our life in the Lord.
Mass Readings – Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
***************
Daily Mass: Repent! Catholic Inspiration
The Sign of Jonah – a call to repent – is the sign that Jesus gives to the crowds…and He continues to offer this powerful sign to us today.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 1st Week of Lent
***************
2nd Sunday of Advent: Repent and prepare for the Lord. Catholic Inspiration
John the Baptist speaks with fiery eloquence, urging the people to prepare for the one who will baptize with fire. In light of his words, may we take the opportunity today to honestly reflect on our lives and confess our sins in preparation for the coming of Christ.
Mass Readings – 2nd Sunday of Advent
***************
2nd Sunday of Advent: Repent and Forgive.
Study: Is there anything keeping you from God or another person right now? What steps do you need to take to make it right?
Pray: Call upon the Lord for the strength to repent and seek forgiveness. Remember – the harder it is the more powerful the healing!
Serve: Is there some way you can be an agent of forgiveness? How can you bring people closer to God and one another?
Mass Readings – 2nd Sunday of Advent
John the Baptist comes on the scene blazing like a torch as he exhorts the people to repent of their sins. He minces no words with the Pharisees and Sadduccees; rather, he makes it clear that the path to God leads through the good fruit of our actions.
John is blunt and direct. There is no spin in his message, no soft touch. He comes to us as a verbal bulldozer, seeking to carve out a direct route that leads to the Lord. I can only imagine what it was like to be in his presence, eager to hear his words yet feeling the sting of his speech. After all, repentance is a great thing to talk about…but often painful to put into practice.
And yet nothing brings about healing faster than forgiveness. When relationships are wounded and we find ourselves in a broken and fragile place, repentance clears the ground and allows us to rebuild our lives in an honest and direct fashion.
Repentance has some key components:
- Knowing good from bad
- Taking ownership for when our actions have been bad
- Seeking to turn away from the bad and strive to embrace the good
- Claiming the mercy and grace of God to renew our lives
- Asking for forgiveness and putting it into practice
As we prepare in this Advent season for the birth of the Messiah, we have the opportunity to examine our hearts and consider what is not worthy of the Lord. Using a good examination of conscience or just the common sense in our souls we have the chance today to repent of our sins, seek forgiveness from God and one another, and live each day in the light and power of Christ.
John tells us that while he baptizes for repentance, the Lord will baptize us in Spirit and fire – allowing us to draw into the very heart of God’s love. Only through repentance will we be able to encounter the burning intensity of divine charity; for when we stand before the Lord whatever is not fitting will burn away. May we cast out whatever is not worthy, and prepare to welcome His holy fire with open hearts.
***************
***************
Note: This post was first published on November 28, 2016.
