Jesus’ initial preaching began in the same way as the ministry of John the Baptist, with a simple proclamation about the need for conversion and change: ‘Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.’ The notion or idea of repentance is one that doesn’t sit very comfortable with us today. That’s because we have lost a sense of sin and consequently have also lost a sense of the need to repent and turn back to God. We strive for a different vocabulary of faith to replace concepts like sin, repentance, contrition and conversion. The problem is that this exercise is rather futile because the Scriptures and the teachings of the Church speak to the human condition and the human condition is fallen.
The Greek word metanoia means to change one’s mind or change direction. The Holy Spirit works in us to convict us of sin and lead us towards repentance; in other words, to change our minds and think differently. The Holy Spirit is the mind-changer, but more importantly the heart-changer. Repentance in this sense isn’t difficult because the Holy Spirit leads us to see how destructive and dark ways of thinking harm us and undermine our wellbeing and happiness.
God created us with the gift of free will. This is why repentance is so vital. God will assist us with grace but respects our free will and ability to choose and decide about whether to sin or not to sin, to turn back to God or to remain in our rebellion. Once we repent, once we turn back to God, once we take the first step, we open ourselves up to the healing mercy of God. Repentance will always be the key that unlocks the door to the royal road, the highway of holiness, the way of the Spirit.
