True repentance

Matthew 11: 20 - 24

..they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes

Jesus is not always 'meek and mild' as we have sometimes made him out to be. There are times when in his loving concern, he has to chastise people and warn them of the foolishness and destructiveness of their ways. Being truly repentant does not come readily for sinful human persons. Those of us who have children know that it is possible to get them to say 'sorry' for something they have done that was not right (or 'sorry' to a sibling they have fought with), but at times that 'sorry' does not go very deep. It is possible that the 'sorry' is voiced in obedience, but is not heartfelt and they harbour for some time at least, the seeming injustice of being disciplined.

So it is not natural at all, 'in the flesh' to experience true repentance. In fact, it is a grace when our conscience is so tender that we are sensitive to the smallest nudge of the Holy Spirit about things that we need to set right. Jesus mentions his miracles as clear signs that should have led the cities to repentance. I believe we don't have to wait for extraordinary miracles to demonstrate God's presence in our midst and bring us to repentance before him. Each and every day, as we look around us, there are many, many evidences of God's workings in our world and in our own lives. "The heavens declare the glory of God....". His 'miracle' is seen in creation first of all and every person who has eyes to see will see. Before such a great God, our most secret sins are exposed. Yet he loves us so much that Jesus calls time and again for repentance, for people to heed the wake-up call and return.......to the One who has loved them with an everlasting love. Repentance is indeed a grace for it brings us back into the divine forgiving embrace.