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TODAY’S WORD…

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“Repent”

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– Matthew 3:2 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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Christ tells us “Repent of your sins and turn to God,

for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

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Christ’s redeeming work ushers in a new era in the Kingdom of God.

What is required from us is a radical change in our behaviour towards God.

The coming of the Kingdom means that God has intervened in a special way to save mankind,

but it also implies that we must be open to God’s grace and reform our ways.

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Christ’s life on earth compels people to take a stand – either for God or against Him

“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me,

and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” (Lk 11:23)

The newly-arrived Kingdom requires that all men repent of their past life.

To put it another way, they have to stop going away from God and instead try to get closer to Him.

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Since sin hinders this conversion, it is impossible to turn back to God without performing acts of penance.

Conversion is not simply a question of making a good resolution to mend our ways;

we have to fulfil that resolution, even if we find it difficult.

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Penance grows only where there is humility – and everyone should admit sincerely that he or she is a sinner.

Obedience also goes hand in hand with penance; everyone ought to obey God and keep His commandments.

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A Christian’s whole life, in fact, consists in constantly correcting his or her behaviour,

and therefore implies a continual doing of penance.

With the coming of Christ, this penance and turning to God have become absolutely essential.

That Christ took on our sins and suffered for us does not excuse us from making a true conversion; on the contrary, it demands it of us!

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SCRIPTURE…

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“If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that His word has no place in our hearts.”

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– St. John the Apostle (1 Jn 1 :8-10)

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“And we can be sure that we know Him if we obey His commandments.

If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments,

that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.

But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love Him.

That is how we know we are living in Him.

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”

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– St. John the Apostle (1 Jn 2 :3-6)

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PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, thank You for becoming one like us and then dying on the Cross to save us.

Lord, through the power of Your resurrection change me and help me become like You.

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