Jan 3: Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand

Salvator Rosa: The Prodigal Son
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg, 1650

Monday after Epiphany

Gospel: Mt 4:12-17, 23-25

From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (NRSV, Mt 4:17 cf. note).”

Heavenly Father, Jesus began his public preaching with a call to repentance. Before Jesus and regrettably even since, your people have thought it necessary to plead with you to forgive their transgressions. They have often thought of you as delaying your forgiveness, even for generations. Natural disasters and illness were perceived as punishment for sin. Sacrifices of animals and of the first fruits of the land were offered in an effort to regain your favor. Even Jesus’ own death, rather than as a sign of your uniting with us out of love, has been understood as a sin offering.

For Jesus, Lord, repentance never means expressing sorrow for our sins and pleading for forgiveness. At no time during his public ministry did Jesus ever demand that the sinner look into his past and dredge up evil done. No, instead, Jesus always challenged the sinner to change his life. Not, “Are you truly sorry for what you have done,” but “Turn away from sin and sin no more.” That is what repentance means for Jesus, Lord, a turning round and living out one’s life differently than before.

Father, so great is your love for us that no sin, not even the worst evil imaginable, can drive you from us. We may turn away in sin but you, Father, are always there. Through your Son, the Word made flesh in Jesus, you press in upon us always, offering us forgiveness and new life, in the Spirit, if only we would accept it. There is no demand for contrition or pleading, or payment to be made. Forgiveness from you is gift, offered freely and which need only be accepted and lived out in the new life that you constantly offer to us.

Father, may I always accept the forgiveness and new life that you offer me through your Word, Jesus, in the Spirit. Transformed by new life, may I then go out in forgiveness to those who have sinned against me and share with them the life and love that you offer to all.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.