Jesus' Call to Repentance

In today's Gospel, Luke 11: 29-32, Jesus says to the crowd: "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah,"  that is, the preaching of Jonah and the subsequent repentance of the Ninevites.

The generation of Jesus' time and our current generation are no different from one another.  There is an abundance of evil in both generations.  In Jesus' generation, people plotted for Jesus' death and, out of jealousy, murdered him on Calvary between two thieves.  In our generation, people also plot to kill others who get in their way. People may be killed because they are about to expose evil or because they are blocking others from fulfilling their lustful desires or from acquiring properties by illegal, unjust schemes.

Where evil abounds, grace abounds as well. Jesus' death and resurrection brought about our redemption and, for that reason,  it is possible for evil to be transformed into a good. People committing evil are offered the grace to repent of their wrongdoing.  Eyes of men and women in actual or virtual prisons are opened. Hope is restored. Hatred destroyed. Evil does not triumph ultimately!

However, if people do not  heed Jesus' call to repentance and, thus, do not follow the example of the Ninevites, they will remain in the pit that Satan sets for those who follow the ways of evil spirits.

Where am I/where are you in this scenario? Are we following good spirit or bad ones?  Are we even aware of sin in our lives and our need for Jesus?

Faith, Repentance and Love

In today’s first reading, 1 John 3:22-4:6, John  speaks about the importance of believing “in the name of [God’s only begotten] Son, Jesus Christ” and loving others with the tenderness with which God loves us.  We are cautioned to discern “every spirit,”  to “see whether they belong to God” or whether they are coming from “false prophets,” from  antichrists, that is,  from those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ come in the flesh.   Hear Jesus address this message directly to you. He might be saying:

Your name,   believe in Me, a Light in the darkness, the Divine Physician who heals all illnesses, (See today’s Gospel, Mt. 4: 12-17,, 23-25), all paralyses, all that cripples, that causes deafness and blindness. Love one another as I love you, forgive others and yourself as I forgive you.  Repent and believe.  The Kingdom of God is among you, within you, and around you. The Kingdom of God is here. There is One among you, in the world, that is greater than any antichrist, greater than non-believers, idolaters, and those who follow false prophets.   Believe in Me, the one true God.  I have conquered the world through obedience to My Father and your Father, my God and your God and through love.  Believe, love and obey the Spirit directing you.  

You’ve seen the darkness of night give way to day.  So, too, the darkness of unbelief and hatred will give way to the Light that I am.

Repent and believe.  The Kingdom of God is here!

What must I believe, Lord?

That I am God; there is no other.

That  I sent my only begotten Son into the world to save the world and all in it from Satan’s power.

That my Son will return to bring all whom I have given Him back to me at the end of time.

What do I believe?

I believe that You, Lord, are God, the Word of God made flesh.

I believe that You sacrificed Your life as the Incarnate Word made flesh to save humankind from eternal death.

I believe that You revealed God’s love for each one of us by your life and death.

I believe You trusted the Father , through whose power You conquered sin and death and rose from the dead to life everlasting, so we, too, will conquer sin and death in Your name and live with You in God’s Kingdom forever.

Prayer: Lord, when I face sin in me today, may I repent and  believe in Your mercy and love.

Your beliefs? Your prayer?