Jesus: Present in His Absence

Jesus’ hosts in Emmaus realized their hearts had burned within them as they listened to Jesus open the scriptures to them. And Jesus opens the minds of his followers to understand the scriptures in preparation for his parting from them to ascend to heaven. He says that repentance in his name will be preached to all the nations.

I don’t hear much preaching on repentance these days. What’s more, I rarely preach about it myself. While I personally repent, admitting to God and others how sorry I am, I preach repentance only during Lent or when an assigned scripture calls for it. I do not bring it up on my own. Am I not following the Holy Spirit’s promptings?

When I hear a person in power violate a value I hold dear, I sign a petition or send an email calling their attention to the problematic words or actions. Yet I had never called for the person to repent. Could this be the time? I wondered whether a politician or his or her staff member would even read my plea for repentance. Would they care that I had made it?

Even as I entertained these questions, I realized they were distractions from the real issue because I sensed that I should call for repentance. Immediately I began to rationalize: Doesn’t that indicate I am judging their behavior? Who am I to judge? Still, there were vulgarities, bad judgment, misuse of resources, and blindness to what is true, good, and needed for the common good being blocked from any but the very richest. There were lies, inhumane treatment and policies, and callous disregard for the dignity of the human person. So yes, I have written to political figures about these issues. And I have asked for their change of heart—because that is what the Spirit prompts me to do.