Repent

In today's Gospel, Matthew records the first words of Jesus as he begins his public life:  "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Mat 4: 17).  This the same message that his cousin, John the Baptist,  preached (Mt 3: 1)..We usually think of repentance as a Lenten theme, but here it is already, on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Given its frequent appearance, it has to be considered the core message, which demands attention now, and cannot, should not, wait for Lent. John and Jesus see that all of us, not just the people who stood in front of them, are not living to the full potential of an active believer in the Word of God.  There are frayed edges, and rounded corners, as, by our "fallen human nature", we seek the "easy way out."  The challenge to live the life of compassion, forgiveness, love, faith and hope as revealed in the Scriptures and made explicit in the example and life of Jesus cannot be ignored if we, like he was, are to be a "light in the darkness." (Mt 4:16).
Our weekly, if not daily, participation in the Liturgy of the Eucharist; our daily personal prayer; our treatment of one another with respect and love, as if we were dealing with Jesus himself; our walking the extra mile to soothe those hurting in spirit, or in body; our comforting of those who mourn; our advice to the confused; a simple smile;  a spoken affirmation of the good we see in others; our confrontation of injustice and efforts to rectify it, all these are ways of repenting, that is, of turning away from our selfish habits and ways, to others, and ultimately to Jesus.
Bro. Rene