BY VERY REV MSGR GABRIEL OSU
This is the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It began as the prophet Isaiah had written: “God said, ‘I ‘will send my messenger ahead of you’ to prepare the way for you. Someone is shouting in the desert. Prepare the way of the Lord, make a straight path for him to travelf” Matthew 3:3.

So John the Baptist appeared in the desert and he preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. “After me comes one who is more powerful than I am, I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals” – Matthew 3:11.

As a forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist baptized Jesus (Matt. 3:13; Mark 1:9-13; Luke 3:21-22). And when Jesus had been baptized in the River Jordan, heaven opened (for him), and a voice came from heaven, saying “You are my Son, the Beloved in whom I am well pleased” – Matthew 3:17.

After Jesus had chosen his Apostles and after John had been arrested and put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and began preaching the Good News of God. “The time has come, the kingdom of God is close at hand. Change your ways (repent) and believe in the Good News” – Matthew 4:17.

Jesus came to reveal the mystery of God, the mystery of the love of God – Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. What does ‘The time has come’ mean? It means that the time fixed by God has come to an end (Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:10), the time of preparation (advent) has ended, and the manifestation of God announced by the prophets has already begun.

‘Change your ways (repent) and believe the Good News’ means that God does not expect works on your part but calls you to have faith. Be rid of all that hampers you, of all that prevents you from seeing and believing!

Believe that it is he, and he alone who is able to save you! And the faith to believe comes after repentance, change Jesus called born again.

The period of Lent is a good time to repent, turn away from sin and change our ways because this is the’ acceptable time’. This is the time to change. If you have no doubt in your heart but believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He came that you may have life and have it to the fullest, in abundance then you are safe and saved.

But have you repented? This is the right time, the acceptable period, because lent is the time for reconciliation, renewal, repentance (conversion), change and growth in the spirit. It is a period of spiritual rearmament. The purpose of lent is to grow in faith and spirituality. Lent is a time we look at our lives and turn away from sin and change our hearts.

What is this repentance all about? Turning away from sin towards God in order to trust, love and obey Him as Lord. You strive to obey His Ten Commandments without amendments! You keep his other rules and regulations and be Christlike. Repentance was emphasized by John the Baptist (Mt. 3:8-11; Lk. 3:3-8) and by Jesus himself (Mt. 4:17; Mk. 1:15; Lk. 5:32) as vvell as the first preachers of the Church (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30; 26:20).

Have you repented this lent? You have no excuse not to repent because this is the” acceptable time”. Repentance is a change of mind, about Christ and the gospel. It could be another word for faith. Repentance refers also to a change of mind about one’s sinful behaviour.

Paul appealed to his readers to let their lives mirror the gospel in business, sexuality and politics. Read 1 Thessalonians chapter two verses 2 and 3.

To change ones mind you need to reflect, understand and ultimately repent. Change your mind means believing in Jesus. Jesus is the real liberator of men and women from diabolical oppression, sin and its consequences and the law. He is our redeemer through the surrender of his life. So repent today and you will beblessed. Amen!