Sermon On Repentance

Thomas Merton, an American Trappist monk, writer and theologian once remarked: “God does not demand that every man attain to what is theoretically highest and best. It is better to be a good street sweeper than a bad writer, better to be a good bartender than a bad doctor, and the repentant thief who died with Jesus on Calvary was far more perfect than the holy ones who had Him nailed to the cross. And yet, abstractly speaking, what is more holy than the priesthood and less holy than the state of a criminal? The dying thief had, perhaps, disobeyed the will of God in many things: but in the most important event of his life he listened and obeyed. The Pharisees had kept the law to the letter and had spent their lives in the pursuit of a most scrupulous perfection. But they were so intent upon perfection as an abstraction that when God manifested His will and His perfection in a concrete and definite way they had no choice but to reject it.” Matthew 4:17 confirms: “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Some people in life bitterly regret certain remarks or actions after the event. It is a sad fact, but it happens all too frequently, especially in relationships. There is an old saying that reminds us that, when we act in haste, we repent at leisure. We can probably all relate to this phrase. It may even strike a significant and painful chord in the memory.

Different circumstances require dissimilar responses, but sadly, some people still do not learn from a previous similar encounter. Emotions overrule practicalities. Situations become heated, words and actions are said and done in anger often without thought or consideration of the consequences. Even if we apologise for the misdeed, the harm caused cannot be retracted. These are the moments that can change a life forever. The attempt to reconcile is often problematic and on some occasions, even irreversible. Then the road ahead may become totally blocked.

We need to think before we speak or do, thus hopefully alleviating the problem. It does take fortitude to sum up the situation and do rational things instead of jumping the gun and coming to the wrong conclusion. We need to consider all angles, not just one. We need to consider the best way to handle the situation. People do silly things when they don't think things through, this is often when they spend the rest of their lives regretting the incident. Just a few minutes of thought can sometimes make the difference between acting hastily and making a stupid error or seeing it from a totally different perspective and making a correct and responsible decision.

Our journey through life is never smooth and even. Pitfalls occur at many stages which are often unexpected and certainly unwanted. The saying “Act in haste, repent at leisure” is typically a warning that really means “If you make a hasty decision, you’ll have plenty of time to mull over your mistake later.”

A tree, in full blossom, is not only attractive, it may be indicative of the commencement of spring. Spring provides hope of better weather to come. It depicts that the end of winter is approaching and a new season of re-birth is about to emerge. It may suggest longer hours of daylight and an increased chance of sunshine. Trees and plants often begin to burst into life at this time of year and adorn us with beautiful colours as the newly formed buds begin to open. Song of Solomon 2:11-12 confirms: “For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land.”

Many people often feel better in themselves as the weather starts to improve, especially if the winter months have been harsh. It can rejuvenate the mind and bodies of mankind. It can uplift spirits. A person’s energy levels may increase and they become motivated to perform adventurous tasks. These may include redecorating or spring cleaning. However, it is important to remember that the sudden hive of activity should be eased into gently, so that the body can acclimatise itself to the extra exertion after a long period of stagnation. For some, the winter months can become particularly tiresome, they may suffer from the doldrums and retain an apathetic approach to life. Interests may diminish and some may feel like hibernating to a place of solitude on a long-term basis. Exercise can help eradicate this problem and may also revitalise other interests that may help to restore the status quo. Some firmly believe that a short break in the winter sun may also resolve the issue. Vitamin D, which the sun provides, is considered beneficial to health, provided that it is absorbed in moderation. If constraints do not allow the possibility of this, then even booking a summer holiday for the following year may help the situation in providing something to look forward to in the months to come.