Returning home

When we think of the word ‘repentance’, it might conjure up notions of misery and gloom and shame. It is true that repentance involves a change of heart and mind and which leads to a change of action. That change usually involves not doing or thinking something that we have formerly done or thought. So repentance involves saying ‘no’ to certain things.

But it also involves a ‘yes’ to something else. The prodigal son decided to say ‘no’ to his pigsty living and as a result said ‘yes’ to homecoming. In general terms we turn aside from sin and turn towards grace and mercy. We leave behind an old life in order to embrace a new life.

We can’t embrace forgiveness till we recognise our need of it. If we have our backs turned to the only offer of help there is, then we can’t take hold of that offer of help. The prodigal son could only receive his father’s mercy by heading back home. So repentance is not some pleasure-denying, grim act of martyr-like self-denial. It is the way we get back home. And it is not something we do just once, but something we do each and every day of our life.

We need to embark on repeated homecomings because we repeatedly leave home.

Blessings
David Reay