I REPENT…

Wisdom of Solomon 1:1-7

1 Love righteousness, you rulers of the earth, think of the Lord with uprightness, and seek him with sincerity of heart;
2 because he is found by those who do not put him to the test, and manifests himself to those who do not distrust him.
3 For perverse thoughts separate men from God, and when his power is tested, it convicts the foolish; 4 because wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul, nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin.
5 For a holy and disciplined spirit will flee from deceit, and will rise and depart from foolish thoughts, and will be ashamed at the approach of unrighteousness.
6 For wisdom is a kindly spirit and will not free a blasphemer from the guilt of his words; because God is witness of his inmost feelings, and a true observer of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.
7 Because the Spirit of the Lord has filled the world, and that which holds all things together knows what is said;

Luke 17:1-6

1 And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come!
2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
3 Take heed to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him;4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamine tree, ‘Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

MEDITATION

THE BOOK OF WISDOM address the matter of ‘concupiscence’ which refers to mans attraction to be drawn to sin, which came about at the fall of Adam and Eve. Dishonesty and deceitfulness darken mans conscience and soul to the extent that man is unable to properly discern and make good qualitative judgements.The antidote to the allure of sin is to live a harmonious righteous life in accordance with the prescripts of God. Man is called to live a Holy Spirit filled  discipline life.

THE GOSPEL READING: Whilst being fully mindful of our injurious human condition, Christ nevertheless highlight and caution us that sin will lead to stress and add to our troubles, especially in the way we raise our children and in our relationships with family members. The old adage that says “charity begins at home” is true when adjudged in context of Christ’s teaching that we acknowledge and repent of our wrongdoing as soon as we have been found out, or when our conscience troubles us! 

These Jewish disciples were well aware that man does not have the power to forgive another mans sin (Mk 2:7;Lk 5:21),hence their request that Jesus “increase their faith” which appears to be a misplaced request, was however a request to obtain wisdom and divine illumination on this matter!. Properly understood, Jesus prepared His disciples for the charism to forgive mans sins, known as the Sacrament of reconciliation or confession (Jn 20:23), that would be given them after His ressurection. We are called to approach the confessional, repent and seek forgiveness for our grievous sins against our brothers and sisters- Unforgiven sins are akin to a millstone arround a mans neck that will bring about our eternal damnation! 

LET US PRAY: Psalms 139:1-10

O LORD, thou hast searched me and known me! 2 Thou knowest when I sit down and when I rise up; thou discernest my thoughts from afar. 3 Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou dost beset me behind and before, and layest thy hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in Sheol, thou art there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there thy hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.