Pat Deckert, Good Will Class, PM Pals, Docent

Center yourself on today’s reflection by lighting a candle and reciting this breath prayer:
Inhale – Be not far from me, O Lord
Exhale – for you are my strength and my help.

Luke 24:46-48
He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. 

Acts 2:38 (New King James Version)
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Reflection:
There was a time when I thought that the Bible specified an exact number of years that a person would live. But at some point, I realized that there are many such references. 

so it might be helpful to know that I write from the perspective of a person who has surpassed the 70 years mentioned in Psalms but hasn’t yet reached the 120 years mentioned in Genesis. Through many sermons, a lot of Bible studies, and the reading and rereading of the Bible, my understanding of scripture, and for this purpose repentance, has evolved and; yes, is still evolving. I think that we can agree that “sin” is anything that separates us from God, others, and even who we were created to be. As a child, I think I “got” that part and I could tell God I was sorry, know I was forgiven, and go on about my life—that is, until the next time I did the same thing. So as I later could see, I was living like the Israelites: sin (small but, nevertheless, sin), beg God’s forgiveness with promises to change, God forgave; sin, beg God’s forgiveness with promises to change, God forgave; sin…you get it, especially if you’ve read through the Old Testament.   

One Easter morning when I was barely a teen, Mother had scraped by for a turquoise and black dress and patent leather shoes. She had left to help with the sunrise service expecting me to walk the few steps to the church after her. Sin grabbed me and convinced me that I did not need to go where those people were coming for their once-a-year style show. After all, I was there every Sunday and my life wasn’t so great. Oh, yes, the devil delivered quite a sermon in that time before Mother and the family returned! Here I was, back to the usual pattern. I even made it all the way to the forgiveness part.

Next Sunday I began to learn about “repentance.” It was Communion Sunday and the pastor’s words that I had heard all my life rang so clear, “Ye that do truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways: Draw near with faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort, and make your humble confession to Almighty God.” The last words of the pastor’s Prayer of Confession sealed it, “…For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life, to the honor and glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

At that time, I began turning to scripture for an understanding of true repentance and realized that it isn’t a one-time event by any means. But if I did walk in Christ’s holy ways, there would be fewer times when I would need to confess, repent and seek forgiveness. “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Colossians 2:6). As our pastor said in a sermon a decade ago, “It’s a personal, daily decision.”

Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the opportunity to choose a new way. Today I make the decision to flee sin and act in a way that honors you and others. Thank you for the forgiveness that is offered even before I can receive it. Help me to both choose the better way while knowing I walk in your grace. Amen.