Turning

‘John the Baptist came preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven in near”.’ (Matthew 3: 1-2)

Today in the lectionary, the gospel reading focuses on John the Baptist and his ministry of preparing the way for Jesus. As part of this he calls on the people to ‘Repent’. While it is certainly true that John seems to have been a very direct preacher who fearlessly called folks out on their hypocrisy and so on, this word ‘Repent’ has become encrusted with all kinds of negative and unappealing  connotations.

Which is a pity, for the word really means ‘turn around’. Turn from going the wrong way and start going the right way. Turn from continuing on the path of destruction and, instead, walk on the path of life. Turn from going your own way and step out on God’s way.

This is one of the great themes of this season of Advent. 

Turn!

And so, in this, there is a call to reflection. Where am I headed? On what road am I walking? Which direction am I taking? And do I need to turn? Are there areas of my life, aspects of my living where turning around is needed in order that I can be going on God’s way?

Asking these questions about our lives in the light of the values of God’s realm and the principles of the Gospel is not simply an Advent undertaking.

It is a daily necessity. We all need to be continually turning in order that we can keep on the right road... or get back onto it if we have taken a wrong turning.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.

(from the old Shaker Hymn ‘Tis the gift to be simple’)