Delivered by Jeril from the Parish of Saint Joseph in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Romans 8: 1-11; Rs psalm 24: 1-2.3-4ab.5-6; Luke 13: 1-9.

DO NOT FORGET TOREPENT

Our meditation today isentitled: Do Not Forget to Repent. At a Catholic school, every student is givena school bag in mixed white and black. On both sides it is written the samesentence that says: "Don't forget to pass exams." This reminds everystudent all the times both at home and at school, that their goal of schoolingis to pass their exams and eventually become good and useful persons. Theschool bag is like an angel that always attracts their attention and remindsthem of the important things regarding study.

In relation with oursalvation after death, the reminder that must be written in our hearts, mindsand bodies must be the following: Do not forget to repent. For every believer,repentance is an absolute condition for salvation and a happy life forever. Asbelievers, we understand the act of repentance. We are always reminded that torepent is to change ourselves from being tortured because of sins, to become aperson who is free from sins and be forgiven the the merciful God.

To those who do notyet know Christ and who choose to oppose Him, repentance also the importantreminder to them. In the end, everyone who was created by God must find himselfor herself worthy and pure to live in God's Kingdom. Worthiness is of coursecharacterized by experiences of change or repentance. The Lord Jesus is dealingwith people who do not believe and who oppose Him.

Then He resolutelydemanded that they must repent from their evil and cruel behavior towards theirneighbours. They must be loving, gentle, and peace-oriented people. Bothbelievers and non-believers, the message of repentance is a call that touchesthe soul, because change must happen in human mental and soul. It can evenhappen, the believers can become more sinfull than those of non-believers. Therefore,this call can be a turning point for them to embrace a new life which is to walkin the way to the Lord.

The reminder torepent is so important beside for our daily lives, also in urgent moment whensomeone is dying. In other words, in facing the moment of near death in thisworld, the appeal: "Do not forget to repent" is very fundamental.This is very useful because someone who dies, he or she must bring himself assomeone who has been forgiven from some or all of his or her sins. Then he orshe will be very pleased to God, the just Judge. But if he or she has notconverted and repented, then the fatal consequences will befall him or her.

Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O most loving Jesus, open our hearts to easily forgive our fellow brothersand sisters who have sinned against us. Make us forgiving persons like Yourself.Our Father who art in heaven ... In the name of the Father ...