During Great Lent, the Sunday Gospel readings present us with questionable characters—the Prodigal Son, the Unjust Steward, and the Unscrupulous Judge—instead of exemplars of perfection to inspire us to transcend our mediocrity and imperfections.
Many times, ideals of perfection are akin to sublime works of art that transcend our capabilities precisely because of their beauty and flawless proportions. Comparing our imperfections to their perfection can be disheartening.
However, when we witness how individuals burdened by moral decay, even in their dire circumstances, possess the remarkable ability to discover and embrace the divine spark, invigorating their willpower with its aid, and redirecting their paths towards the source of all life, we are undoubtedly inspired to emulate their example.
The power of repentance begins to take effect in our nature the moment we focus our attention on the light bestowed upon us through the sanctifying grace of faith, hope, and love, which the sacrament of Baptism has infused into our souls.
We should be incredibly grateful that our parents not only bestowed upon us the gift of natural life but also the extraordinary gift of supernatural divine life. This divine life makes us children of God and members of the Church, the Body of Christ. They entrusted us with the most precious pearl of the Kingdom of our Heavenly Father. We have already contemplated how Saint Ephrem the Syrian was captivated by the beautiful countenance of our Lord Jesus in this pearl.
The new kingdom of God is present everywhere. It encompasses the entire creation because it resides within us and conquers all that we cover with the love of our God. This kingdom comes to life every time and everywhere we perform good deeds. This is the true essence of Christ’s words, which state that the new kingdom of God is not confined to a specific location but is embedded within our very nature. It is our very nature, the nature to which we are brought to life in the womb of the sacrament of Baptism.
Living a life of repentance isn’t about endlessly lamenting our faults and sins. As St. John Chrysostom teaches, true repentance is a deep longing for God—a drawing toward Him. Like Zacchaeus (Luke 19.1-10), if we feel too limited to see Jesus clearly, we should seek ways—like climbing a sycamore tree—to get closer and catch sight of Him. We must also listen when the Lord tells us to come down, humbly recognizing our limitations. Only by doing this can salvation reach our lives. Ultimately, let’s heed Jesus’ counsel to build our lives on the firm foundation of God’s teachings, as described at the end of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7.24-27).
