Third Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year B)

Jonah 3:1-5 &10, Psalm 24, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20

Our Lord began his public mission with the call: ‘Repent, and believe the Good News.' Who was this call to repentance directed to? While it was directed to sinners in the first place, it was in fact directed at everyone, even the good.

Jesus had more trouble with good people than with sinners. Why?  The hardest people of all to convert are the good, because they do not see any need of conversion. It is hard enough to get those who are ill to go to the doctor, but try persuading those who are convinced they are well to go! Sinners who openly admitted they were sinners did not cause Jesus the same trouble.

To answer the call to repentance we must feel dissatisfaction with ourselves, and have a longing for something better. There must be a sense that something is wrong, or at least that something is missing.  The conversion experience begins with the realization that we are not what we could and should be. This realization is the first stage of a process, the first step of a journey.

To take on board the call to repentance demands openness, honesty, humility, and above all courage - the courage to put an end to self-deception, and confront a painful reality. The courage to admit our guilt, ask for forgiveness, and resolve to change. People can become so set in their ways, so sunk in ruts, that it is almost impossible to move them on.

Some people can see a better future, and still will not move. They realise that this future cannot be achieved in the twinkling of an eye or by the waving of a magic wand. They realise that the road forward will be long, and the progress slow and painful. The present self cannot dwell in the house of the future; only a transformed self can. This is why some people opt to stay as they are.

Repentance is often presented as, a harsh, negative and sad thing, as if it merely consisted in feeling guilty about our sins and doing penance for them. Repentance, however, is a very positive thing. True, to repent is to admit that all is not well with ourselves. But it is also to discover something wonderful about ourselves, namely, that we tremendous God given potential which we did not know we had.

Repentance means acquiring a new vision, taking a new direction, setting ourselves more worthwhile goals, living by better values. In a word, it opens, the way to a new life. Understood like this, repentance is exciting, and always leads to joy.

To repent means to be converted. Conversion is the starting point of every spiritual journey, and is a prerequisite for entry into the kingdom of God. And the Christian life by its very nature is a continuous process of conversion. ‘The kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’