But what is repentance? Is it grief and sorrow for our sins? That is part but only part and not even the most important aspect. It is not just remorse but a transformation, a reorienting of our lives toward God. It is a state of being in which we find ourselves in a great light. It is not a dark place. We may think all this emphasis on repentance is dark and oppressive, where is the joy of the Christian life? The answer is in repentance! We can only truly repent when we have come into the light of God's presence and we see ourselves as we are.
Repentance is the daughter of hope and denial of despair. The ultimate sin is to despair of God's mercy. To live a life of repentance is a life of great faith, we must believe that God loves us and desires to extend His mercy to us and we must believe that He has the power and is willing to change us and make us holy. Many experience great anguish over their sins but are unable to forgive themselves. They have not repented; they have not come to the revelation that love is more powerful than their own failings. They are still too self absorbed and without faith in God's power and mercy. Their eyes are on themselves and not on God. They have not been converted...
To repent is to look, not downward at my own shortcomings, but upward at God's love; not backward with self-reproach, but forward with trustfulness. It is to see, not what I have failed to be but what by the grace of Christ I can yet become.
- Rev. Patrick Cardine
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1 comment:
What a great spin on the notion of repentance. I appreciate the God-centeredness and freedom to move forward in faith. Amen.
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