Life-giving repentance

“When they heard this, they stopped objecting and glorified God, saying, ‘God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too.’” (ACTS 11: 18)

Repentance is a twofold process: we turn away from sins and we turn toward God. If we only turn away from sins, not believing in God, we are like a person in an amazing outfit with no place to go; when we turn toward God, without turning away from our sins, we are like a guest who is invited to a wedding banquet but goes without a proper outfit—we will be asked to leave the place.

“I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.” (Gospel Acclamation)