Wednesday, March 23

Jeremiah 3:6-18

Psalms 72, 119:73-96

Romans 1:28-2:11
John 5:1-18

A Child’s Guide to Repentance (also useful for adults?)

Growing up in London England, in the 1940’s, the concept of sudden death was constantly in our minds. The Anglican church we attended insisted on “confession” prior to Confirmation. This was a scary but necessary rite and we had no real idea what it meant.

Today’s readings, and many of the readings in Lent, call on us to Repent. Perhaps we take this too lightly or may not know what to do. A simple solution may be to think of repentance as a kind of Twelve Step process:

1. Admit to ourselves we are sinners and can do nothing about it on our own

2. Recognize that only God can help us

3. Make a firm decision to turn to Him for help

4. Make a searching and fearless inventory of our failings

5. Admit to God, ourselves and another human being the exact nature of our sins

6. Admit we are ready to have God help us

7. Humbly ask Him to forgive us

8. Make a list of people against whom we have sinned and resolve to make amends to them

9. Go and make amends in whatever way we can

10. Continue this process, frequently, and resolve always to follow these principles

11. Continue to pray to God for strength to resist our natural tendency to sin

12. Carry to others the message of God’s mercy and forgiveness

For “mature” Christians some of the steps may not be necessary, but the principles are unchanged. We only wish that as we were preparing for our first Confessions we had been given such a detailed plan of action.

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions

But think of me in your goodness, O Lord according to your steadfast love

Christ have mercy

O keep my soul and deliver me;

Let me not be put to shame, for I have put my trust in you

Lord have mercy

Joyce and Ron Merrett