DAILY HOMILIES #repentance

As a Christian, if people get close to me, would they see something different from what I portray in public? Do I even believe the things I preach? Do I expect anyone to believe me if I am not convinced about right and wrong? How do I hope to convert a single soul if I am still an unbeliever? How long will I keep hiding, hoping my secrets will never be exposed?

One may ask, “Why are there so many steps? If someone sins against us, why don’t we move on? Through these steps, Jesus wants us to make an effort to win back one who has sinned against us. Give them an opportunity to repent before surrendering them to God. Remember: There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than the ninety-nine who do not need repentance.

God is patient, but we must not take His patience for granted. Jesus wasn’t speaking in parables when he spoke about the furnace of fire where men will weep and gnash their teeth. Jesus mentioned this “furnace of fire” while explaining the wheat and weeds parable. There comes a time when the reapers will enter the farm and gather the weeds; then, it will be too late. Repent now while it is possible.

Just as God expected more from the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, He expects much more from us. If the people who lived in Chorazin in Jesus’ time were to visit the world today, what would they say about our latest technology? We are living in an age of miracles. We have too many signs and wonders to show that God truly loves us, but we take them for granted. How do we show appreciation to God for His uncountable blessings?

The fact that the high priest and his council dared to face the men who miraculously vanished from prison and even threatened them teaches me that no matter how many battles we fight and win, our enemies will not rest. Satan knows how powerful God is, but he never stops waging battles with God’s children. Temptations never really end.

Jonah did not try to paint or sugarcoat the truth; he was not interested in gathering followers but in obeying the voice of God. Despite the moral decadence in our society, many preachers avoid the truth. In many places, church services are organised to entertain and encourage donations. We live in the age St. Paul was referring to when he said: “For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Are you a leader in any capacity? Do you have people looking up to you as their mentor? Reflect on Eleazer’s words, “Such pretence is not worthy of our time of life lest… I defile and disgrace my old age.” Do you know how upsetting it can be when you discover that your role model is not as holy as he has presented himself? Temptations to sin must surely come. Please do not become the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.

To kill a rat, you must think like a rat; to win a sinner to repentance, you must come to their level. This is precisely what Jesus did. He risked his reputation (to the extent that he was nicknamed a glutton) to save the lost souls. If we are genuinely interested in winning souls, we will never condemn or write off anyone. No matter how much evil a person has done, they still have something good in them.

Today’s first reading warns against the “Jonah complex”—the reluctance, prejudice, or anger that can make us unwilling to share the Good News with certain groups or “enemies.” We must have God’s heart for the whole world. Similarly, Today’s responsorial psalm provides the ultimate goal of the mission, which is to ensure that the entire earth sees and praises God for His saving work.

“When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them, and he did not do it.” (Jonah 3:10). Repentance moves God. Just as God changed His mind towards the Ninevites, repentance from sin saves us from the calamities our sins attract.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus is unhappy with Bethsaida and Chorazin because, despite the miracles in those towns, the people remained stiff-necked and refused to repent. Jesus was expecting a change of heart and a change of life to follow from the miracles, but the reverse was the case.

The simple truth is that even though many of us are frequent at Holy Communion, we have no real connection with God. At the gate of heaven, God will deny knowing us because we refused to take our hands off evil. We tried eating our cake and having it; we thought we could serve two masters. We pretended to be good externally, but we soaked ourselves in sin in secret. On the last day, it is those things we did secretly that will count.