18th Sunday: REPENT, no really REPENT!

Repent!
I have preached on that word and idea before, and it is not necessarily all that scary, it simply means “to change direction.”
Well on second thought, maybe that is scary.
To change direction, whether it is how we think or act, can be scary:  Even when the change is for our better.
Salvation in Christ is the freedom to change; clearly for the better, and not just for us, but for all.
Maybe one of the things that scares us the most is that we think we must make a wholescale, all inclusive, dramatic change!
Let’s face it, that is intimidating.  
I think of people who want to get all healthy, so they totally dive into it.
Exercise and to the gym, total change of eating habit, give up foods, drinks, et al
And it becomes overwhelming and they give up.
The digestion is all messed up because they only eat cabbage soup.
Blah blah.
I have met people too who have want to make a great Spiritual change!
They have come to a realization and want to give their lives to Jesus!
Yayyy!
And so they make all these dramatic changes to their lifestyle
They are at Mass every day
Praying rosaries and such at every hour.
They are scrupulous in following all the rules.
They are volunteering at every conceivable event.
They go from donating $5 per week to $6.
And then they flame out!
Give up.
There must be a better way?
St. Paul writes to his communities in the 2nd reading about the need to repent, to change.
He speak of changing the mind; and how we think.
He reminds them that a life of faith in Christ, being a Christian, means a shift in how we think.
See, Jesus Christ, his very person as the Son of God who became human; as that human and divine person who forgave, healed, listened;
Who out of love for all people and complete trust in the Love of the Father, willingly gave of himself so that all will also know of the Father’s love;
All this invites us to think and be different.
Belief in him alters the way we view life and people.
This is part of experiencing our salvation!
We are invited to reconsider how we view ourselves, the world and ourselves in the world.
And make a course correction, make changes that reflect the freedom of Jesus Christ.
It is about honestly looking at the suffering in our lives and the suffering we cause to others, whether consciously and unconsciously, and accepting that the “I” must change to remove/diminish that suffering.
And it is not always about making huge, dramatic over-arching changes.
Often, it is small, but foundational matters.
It is that change of realizing that salvation is not just about getting into heaven, but it is about having joy in this world as well.
It’s that change of realizing that we don’t have to be angry all the time and at people in our lives.
It’s that change of understanding that healing is here, and we can take that risk to trust in others, and have better relationships.
Newlyweds need to make these adjustments or course corrections, Right? That change that, “Oh wait..I’m married, and my life reflects upon my spouse, and my spouses upon me!  So now how will i act?”
Quiet, internal changes that will subtly change the way we act.
Think about the change that is about to happen on the altar.
That bread and wine become something greater, wonderful...and there is not loud explosion; not trumpet blasts from angels, no fanfare, nor explicit miracle.
A quiet change of through the love of God.
A change to Christ that reflects self-giving, compassion, humility, mercy…
A change to Christ that is about love.
Maybe that some love is quietly urging all of us, to be changed too.
Scary, sure, but don’t we believe it is worth it?

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