Even without Holy Week

By Alex P. Vidal

“The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. The repentance of a hypocrite is itself hypocrisy.” — William Hazlitt

EVEN if it isn’t Holy Week, we exhort good-for-nothing leaders, mulcters and grafters in government, as well as thieves, social media maniacs, dishonest individuals, philanderers and scam artists in society, to repent for their sins.

The repentance process does not have to take place during Holy Week; even in normal weeks, all of us sinners can actually perform a sincere act of reviewing our actions, feeling deep sorrow or contrition for wrongdoing, and committing to a change in behavior, character or direction.

It means we must turn away from negative behaviors and toward a better, often spiritual, way of life. It includes remorse, penitence, compunction and contrition.

All of us sinners can actually begin the repentance process in normal weeks — even without the traditional special solemnity of a time of devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ.

Some of us, however, will learn to repent only after we have been caught, hauled into court and convicted at the bar of justice. Inside the jail, we make amends for our sins and serve our sentences just the same.

-o0o-

When Jesus started His public ministry, He also called for repentance. Matthew 4:17 records, “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” Jesus says of repentance, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7).

Many understand the term repentance to mean “a turning from sin.” Regretting sin and turning from it are related to repentance but are not the precise meaning of the word. In the Bible, the word repent means “to change one’s mind.”

The Bible also tells us that true repentance will result in a change of actions (Luke 3:8–14; Acts 3:19).

-o0o-

In Mark 6:12, the disciples also “went out and preached that people should repent.” This preaching continued in Acts. Peter preached to Jews, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

Paul preached to Gentiles, “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Later, he testified, “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:21). Similarly, “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds” (Acts 26:20).

As demonstrated in the passages above, repentance is an important part of an initial response to the gospel, but it is also an important part of the life of a Christian.

Writing to the church at Corinth, Paul says, “Now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended” (2 Corinthians 7:9).

To the church at Ephesus, Jesus says, “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first” (Revelation 2:5).

-o0o-

DIVIDED PEOPLE. Politics has divided the nation and will further exacerbate the tension and wrangling among political rivals now that the campaign period for the next election is approaching. More friendships will be shattered before and after the elections. Sad but true.

FILTER IT AWAY. The human body requires at least 1 gallon of water a day. If we are considering stocking up on emergency supplies, let’s bear in mind that plastic bottles are thought to leach chemicals into the water if left for a length of time. Let’s save space and the environment by stocking up on water filters instead.

WELCOME THE WIND. Many products can cause air pollution to build up in our home, including modern cleaners, which contain strong chemicals. Let’s make sure to ventilate our home well, ensuring a flow of air to help reduce pollution levels and encourage good ventilation.

SHORT PENIS. An adult gorilla’s penis is only 2 inches long. From now on, let’s be kind to gorillas because of their limited “happiness.”

THEY ARE HEALTHY. Foods and nutrients that can lower our cholesterol naturally: activated charcoal, barley, carrots, chromium, corn bran, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower), eggplant, evening primrose oil, fenugreek seed, fiber, garlic, ginger, lemongrass oil, soybeans, yogurt, red pepper and onions.

DISHABILIOPHOBIA is the fear of undressing in front of someone. In the first place, who would have the guts to undress in front of someone? Even some couples possess this fear. Undressing in front of a mirror is even nerve-tingling!

INFAMOUS SEVEN. The seven cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church who falsely condemned Galileo Galilei in the Holy Inquisition were F. Cardinalis de Asculo, G. Cardinalis Bentiuolus, Fr. Cardinalis de Cremona, Fr. Antonius Cardinalis S. Honuphrij, B. Cardinalis Gypsius, Fr. Cardinalis Verospius and M. Cardinalis Ginettus.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines. — Ed.)