6th September

Repent and believe the good news. Mark 1, 15

God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life. Acts 11, 18

Pay for our sins?

The way which leads to God passes by repentance. Jesus clearly illustrated this with the parable of "the lost son" (Luke 15). This is the story of young man who demands his share of the estate, then leaves the house and squanders all his goods by living in debauchery. However, when he has nothing left he comes back to himself and decides: "I will stand up, return to my father and tell him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am not worthy to be called your son anymore."

First of all repentance is a return. It is a return to what is true when we are conscient of the reality of sin. A return to God in the feeling of his goodness. He knows my whole story; poor sinner as I am, I rely on his mercy.

Unfortunately, there is a counterfeiting to repentance. To pity with one's condition man would like to compensate the evil one has committed with good works or even with sufferings. A friend who had great problems once said: " You see, like this I pay a little bit for my sins." In the deepness of one's heart this is an arrogant attitude. God doesn't ask us to punish ourselves.

Repentance is a radical change, a new orientation. Instead of being centered on oneself, man now lives for God. The danger for the believer is to let the selfish and arrogant me assert oneself again. Then one has to confess these tendencies and rely on God to take up the good way again.