Μετανοεῖτε

The Catholic Church in the eyes of the secular world sometimes is nothing more than an international relief or social welfare agency, taking care of orphans, underprivileged, building hospitals, schools, water wells, orphanages, fighting deforestation, social injustice, global warming, you name it. Though these human activities are important, we as Catholics must not forget that the primordial task on our hands is preaching true conversion to God and salvation through the Church and the sacramental means at our disposal...

Today's Gospel contains a pivotal message, a key to understand Christ's Gospel, His very first message to us: "Ἀπὸ τότε ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς κηρύσσειν καὶ λέγειν, Μετανοεῖτε, ἤγγικεν γὰρ ἡβασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν". (Mt 4:17) From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt 4:17).

The word Μετανοεῖτε is a key given to us to understand what Christianity and our discipleship with Christ is all about. Μετανοεῖτε - this word has a fantastic deep meaning - this means to turn one's life around, this is a total change of a person who discovers that she/he took a wrong path which leads nowhere. This is a decision to turn around and go back to roots, in our regard - to the Baptismal Vows, to God Himself, to our initial fidelity and love... Μετανοεῖτε - hey, where are you going, man? Turn around! Go back! As a prodigal son who is a best example of metanoia - repentance with a total change of the face of his life, going back to the Father, leaving behind the failure and sorrow, going back to life and light...

This is what Catholic Church is all about. The loud shout from the churches, ambos, lecterns, classrooms, street corners, small Christian communities, Catholic families, our own personal lives - should be heard all over the world - Μετανοεῖτε!!! Repent! Where are we heading??? It is madness! Let's go back to God, to our Father's House where we belong! Turn around before it's too late and go back to the Baptismal font to start all over again, this time more wisely and carefully never leaving Christ from our sight...