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Lent means Repent
"Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15
I am the youngest of 8 boys. Many years ago one of my brothers called his wife and children together for a family meeting that would turn out to be a great experience of repentance. One definition of repentance could be asked in the form of a question: “Would you kindly turn around from the direction you are going and move towards God and the gospel way of life?”
Saturday was not atypical with soccer games, errands, and the stress of trying to get so much done and pack it all in. Nerves, tensions, stress, and impatience were definitely on the rise. Waking up on Sunday morning, my brother pulled the family together and had everybody answer questions about what the hardest thing and the best thing that was going on in their lives. I think the answers they shared with each other are telling. It all had to do with relationships and whether they were working and loving or not. The hardest thing for family members is when they were fighting, being selfish, bickering, being exclusive, etc. The best thing going on was when they were loving, including, and sharing with each other. As each member shared what was difficult, it brought the importance of relationships to the fore. Individual members recognized their own sins and they turned toward one another and God in repentance. The whole family meeting ended with forgiveness, reconciliation, and hugs.
Fathers, call a family meeting so that you can talk about the “hardest” things in your family and forgive one another. Mothers, do the same. Do it once a month. Children, ask your families to gather together so that instead of turning away from each other you will turn to each other and to God. Let us deal with each other in our lapses of love and turn to God to find Gospel life and forgiveness. Friends, you can do this together, too! Repent!
The Holy Mass contains so many beautiful prayers. Pay attention to them during our saving liturgy! I want to close with one from the Eucharistic Prayer of Reconciliation II. Fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, and friends- perhaps you can use this prayer as you gather to turn to God and one another to experience of the fullness of Gospel life and forgiveness as you repent.
God of power and might,
We praise you through your Son, Jesus Christ, who comes in your name.
He is the Word that brings salvation.
He is the Hand that you stretch out to sinners.
He is the way that leads to your peace.
God our Father,
We had wandered far from you,
But through your Son, you have brought us back.
You gave him up to death
So that we might turn to again to you
And find our way to one another.
Therefore we celebrate the reconciliation
Christ has gained for us.
AMEN
+Fr. John Amsberry
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