Repent, For The Kingdom Of Heaven Is At Hand

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A).

After John, the Baptist had been arrested Jesus left for Capernaum to begin his public ministry, where he called his disciples. Their calling comes with various accounts but the message is the same, the very first test – without which we cannot be disciples – is that when God calls us, we respond to that call. What was the message that these first Apostles, Simon and Andrew, heard on the lips of Our Lord?  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This was very similar to the message of John the Baptist, who we are told ‘preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.’ In fact, Saint Matthew records John as using exactly this same phrase as our Lord: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Both insist on the need for conversion, the need to change our attitude and conduct. In John’s case, that was the way of preparation for the coming of the kingdom; now Jesus teaches conversion as the way by which we enter His kingdom.

The need for conversion was, of course, not new – we read it many times throughout the Old Testament; and we can see repentance as part of the picture in Isaiah’s prophesy which we have heard read at Mass today, where the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. The scriptural writers often use the metaphor of darkness when talking about sin; sin is something we prefer to do away from the light, away from discovery. But Isaiah promises that the people will see a great light and, as a result of that light, will know happiness and peace.  They will turn from their sinful ways into the truth and light of Christ, come to dispel the darkness of sin and to bring about His kingdom.  And the key to entry into that kingdom is repentance, turning from our old ways to embrace His good news, that He came to save us, that he wants to save us.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” By making this connection with the kingdom, Our Lord emphasises that our repentance should not be so that we avoid hell, but rather that we obtain heaven. St. John Paul II has spoken of this conversion many times. He says, ‘Conversion to God always consists in discovering God’s mercy. And authentic knowledge of this mercy is, in turn, a constant and inexhaustible source of conversion, as a permanent attitude, as a state of mind. It is this constant state of conversion which marks out the most profound element in the life of a disciple.’ (extracted and slightly paraphrased from Dives in misericordia, 13)

 And, briefly, I want to turn your attention to the reading from St Paul’s letter to the Christians at Corinth, whom he takes to task for the strife and disagreements among them.  As Paul asks his readers, “Is Christ divided?” There is no excuse for divisions; unity is based on Christ. He was crucified for all; we are all baptised into Him, and so we all belong to Him.  It is through baptism that a Christian becomes part of the one body of Christ.  In baptism, the merits gained by Christ on the cross are applied to us and we are configured to our dead and risen Lord.  On the cross, He revealed His power and the truth of His kingdom. We must constantly renew our commitment to His kingdom which we made, or which was made on our behalf, in our baptismal vows and which we reaffirm each year in the Easter liturgy. So let us consider our part in bringing about Christ’s Kingdom and let us pray for unity in His church that she may be an effective sign of His mercy and His love; and where necessary, let us repent of our weaknesses and failings. May the Lord hear our prayers.

Fr Joseph Osho