WHAT was Jesus talking about?

Last Sunday’s Gospel tells us that Jesus went all over Galilee preaching “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand”. Do we know what he meant by “repent”?

English has a narrow definition of the word 'REPENT'.  For us, it focuses on human sin. It is about having remorse for a specific sin which we have to confess and turn away from; it leads to a call for God’s mercy.

The Gospel of Matthew was written in Greek. Here Jesus uses the word “metanoia”, which means “to turn your life in another direction”. Here the stress is not on what we turn from but where or who we turn to. It is intimately directed to the God of mercy, compassion, faithful love and grace. So Christian repentance is primarily about opening our hearts to God’s love.

This January we begin Year A in Ordinary Time. It is a time of new beginnings. The Church, in choosing these readings on the 3^rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, is calling us to make the New Year’s resolution of turning more deeply to the God of love.

It is a time to ask some questions. Am I coasting along - not depending much on the loving God? Am I comfortable as I am? Has my once radical ambition to follow Jesus like the fishermen who leave their boats and nets grown cold? Do I need to hear the divine call afresh? It is no use embarking with the Church on a new year of grace unless I am determined to open my heart more deeply to the infinite love which is calling at the deepest level of my being.

In less than three weeks, Lent will start. Am I going to leave thinking about it till the last minute? Holy Spirit kindle in us the fire of your love!