This leads to the 2nd Reading where St Paul placed or contextualised the challenge of conversion in terms of the shortness of time. Vocation and redemption are closely linked and there is not much time to waste when it comes to the call of salvation. How are we to grasp this sense of urgency?
The notion of urgency can drive us helter-skelter because we are fearful that we may lose out--the kind we know as “kiasu”. But a famous productivity guru advised that we should not allow what is important to become urgent. It means we accomplish what needs to be done without letting a situation to deteriorate into a panic that makes us run like “kiasu” headless chickens.
Instead, repentance is a matter of importance because it deals with our eternal salvation. It should not be left to deteriorate into an issue of urgency. A good example would be to wait until an elderly or an invalid becomes so incapacitated only then to request for anointing. We often have ways of procrastinating which reduces an important matter into an urgent task. This takes us closer to our lived experience. Here are some points to consider.
Firstly, life is contingent. The recent experiences of deaths of loved one, especially during Covid and now the deaths of a few priests can help us appreciate how important it is to not allow conversion to “wait” simply because we think that there is still time. This false sense of security that time is on our side fosters a procrastinating attitude. Untimely deaths remind us that time is not ours and we should not presume. For example, do not wait until it is too late to show your appreciation to those whom you love or to forgive while you still have time. It is not easy but one should take heart and this brings us to the second point.
Life is also a series of slow conversion. Many of us who go for regular confessions will lament that we have not or have barely changed. What is most frustrating is to gain a step forward only to fall two steps backward. Sometimes after a retreat or a seminar or confession, we gain strength to make the necessary changes in our lives, only to relapse after a short period. This is frustrating not to mention demoralising. What we should recognise is that conversion is a life-long journey. Change often happens imperceptibly and over a long period of time. It is like getting fatter. We suddenly realise that our trousers no longer fits when they fitted a month ago. What is central to the journey of conversion is constancy and not time.
Constancy or consistency requires that we regularly hone our good habits. A good example is replacing our curses with blessings. If we are habitual in cursing on the road, we can begin by replacing that swearing phrase with a benediction. “What the….” becomes “The Lord is great” or something to the effect. Slowly and without realising it, the new habit will become who we are.
This weekend, we celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God. For the harvest to be bountiful, the Word of God is like seed that should fall on fertile ground. That fertile ground is not passive. In other words it is not a given. For soil to be fertile, it requires tilling and turning over in order to prepare it to receive the seed sown. Likewise, if we want to hear God’s Word and pay attention to Him, we must prepare our hearts to receive Him. This requires good habits. Sadly, we tend to focus on our failures feeding our hopelessness and despair. Teresa of Calcutta reminds us that God does not require us to succeed. He only requires that we try.
The Lord’s desire that we never give up trying explains why He continually calls each one of us. Our response to Him becomes our journey of salvation. Prayers with patience are needed because not every path is straightforward or is headed heavenward. In the end, the Lord will judge everyone not because we have failed but because we have not made any attempt to receive Him. The 1st Reading which recorded God’s intended punishment of Nineveh was stayed or put off, conjures an image of a God waiting to pounce on our mistakes and punish us for our missteps. He does not. Pope Francis expressed a hope that hell is empty because such a sentiment rhymes with an image of God who is merciful. But God is both merciful and just and if our trajectory in life consists of making the same mistake of turning away from Him instead of responding to His overture, punishment is ours by just dessert and not by God’s active will.
In summary, by calling Peter, Andrew, James and John, Christ enrolled them into the vocation of repentance and redemption. He continues to invite us to join the same enterprise. Interestingly Christ’s first words in His public ministry were “Repent, believe in the Gospel”. His exhortation shows us the close connexion between the acceptance of God’s Word and repentance. We cannot do any better than to listen to, believe in Him and be converted.
