"Repent, for the kingdom of God is near." - Matthew 4:17

Every day, we experience certain kind of struggles in our lives. Sometimes, we start our day so good but end it as bad as it could ever be. There are times when we feel so low and times when we feel so awesome. I guess that’s just the real concept of life. We don’t really know when things will work out and when things will get messed up.

Every day, we sin. Sin has been always part of our lives. Remember: We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners. Basically, we were born sinners and that’s why we sin. But sinning differently doesn’t make us any better or less than any other person.

In school, they taught us the concept of sin – that there are different types of sin: mortal sin, venial sin, original sin. I know all or most of us have heard about these stuff. But what is it that needs to be emphasized really?

In the Gospel, Jesus said, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is near.”

Knowing that we sin is not the main gist here. It is what we do about it. How do we respond to it? How do we act upon it? That is if we actually do something about it.

Sometimes, these concepts get confusing and sometimes, we mix up confession with repentance. Confession is not repentance and repentance is not confession as well. What’s the difference then? Confession is admitting you have done wrong and that you are sorry. Repentance is asking for forgiveness for your sins and turning away from it once and for all. Repentance not only says I’m sorry, but says I don’t want to do that again. It’s turning from sin, a different direction, a change. When forgiveness results in a change of mind and heart, you have repentance.  So which is harder? Confession or repentance?

Pope Francis, in one of his homilies, prays to receive the “grace of shame” for his failures and the humility to recognize that whatever good he accomplishes is really done by the Lord. “Grace of shame”, yes, there’s such thing. We are often afraid or ashamed to tell the truth and the same goes to admitting our wrong. We find it difficult to accept that we have sinned because by accepting it, we tend to feel unworthy. We tend to seek justification thinking, “Yes, we are all sinners”. But being ashamed of the wrong you have done leads you to humility. It is accepting that you have sinned but is humble enough to ask the Lord for forgiveness.

No matter how good of a person we are, we all have our flaws and weaknesses. Sometimes, we ask ourselves, “How come I am good person yet seem to be bad at the same time?” Answer? Because you are not perfect. Sad. But you know what makes it good? In Mark 2:7 Jesus says, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” See, Jesus came especially for us, for our salvation.

Jesus is the light of the world, the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”  He was born in this very world we are living for us to be able to see that all things have its purpose. He came and died for our sins. It is not for His own that He was crucified but for our sake. And so Jesus calls us to repent. Not merely confess and be sorry.

It is not easy especially when the sins we have committed became a part of our comfort zone already. Our mistakes do not define us and we are called to be better every single time. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Hate the sin, love the sinner.” Once we are able to let go of our sinfulness and embrace the love of the Lord for us, we will be able to feel the comfort we long for. In John 1:9 it says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from our unrighteousness.”

“Repent, for the kingdom of God is near.”

This scripture has been read to us a couple of times for a couple of years already. So when exactly is this “near” that Jesus is telling us? Honestly, even I can’t answer that for you. All I know is that, one day, some day, He will come again. And by then, will you be ready to face Him? Have you repented by then? Are you worthy to be with Him by then?

We all make mistakes. But if we keep on saying the cliché “nobody’s perfect”, then how can we learn to strive to be better and say that “yes, I am not perfect but at least I tried”? It’s never too late to try and never too late for change. What’s important is that, we, as one community of believers, help each other change to be more like Christ every day by never giving up on each other and always being there for one another. No judgments, no divisions, just love and acceptance.

Everyone might not be always good but there’s always something good in every one. Never judge anyone shortly because every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.

- January Santiago