Through Stained Glass: Advent Word a Day-Repent

“But the man who is not afraid to admit everything that he sees to be wrong with himself, and yet recognizes that he may be the object of God's love precisely because of his shortcomings, can begin to be sincere. His sincerity is based on confidence, not in his own illusions about himself, but in the endless, unfailing mercy of God.”
― Thomas Merton

Repent.

“Be earnest, therefore, and repent.”

This line comes from a larger text about responding to Jesus.

Knocking. Listening to Christ’s voice.

A voice that is continually calling out to us, inviting us back, and extending grace. Christ speaks honestly, truthfully, and bluntly. The Christ does so pastorally, prophetically, and poetically. The One who knocks wants to come in and dine with us because Christ loves us.

To live as Christ, we must check ourselves and repent.

Repent.

Which leads to transformation and restoration.

But to change the world and all that is wrong with it, we must begin with the things that separate ourselves from God, neighbor, and, well, us. Once we name this in us, we will be able to join in on the movement of re-creation with others. As I eluded to above, repentance, I think, is not interested in singling out scapegoats and punishing them. Instead, it calls whole communities to engage in the work of repair and reconciliation without forgetting their own responsibility for the way things are.

Jesus mentioned repentance in Revelation 3, which is followed by this verse: “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.”

Jesus calls, it is up to us to listen and respond, returning to the One who waits for us.

Tecumseh does an excellent job of watching both what’s outside, as well as his reflection. When he was a puppy, like most pups do, he would bark and growl at his reflection. Tecumseh doesn’t do that as much anymore. Instead, he sits for hours and watches the neighborhood. Usually, it is pretty quiet. Occasionally, he will let me know what is going on outside. I've noticed that when he first sits down to observe out the window, he bows his head a little, and his ears go back. I can tell he is letting his eyes adjust but is attuned to what's on the other side by using his ears. Basically, to see outside fully, he must see past himself--which takes time getting used to his reflection while depending on listening for what's on the other side.

Repentance is like Tecumseh watching himself and the world through the window. We must wrestle with our true selves [our false self's reflection] while also paying attention to the happenings around us—but instead of responding with empty woofs and howls, we must do the work of justice and peace.

Listen. Watch. Pray. Eat.