Conversion: Change of Heart

02-21-2021Weekly Reflection Fr. Bing Colasito

In the first reading, Noah went into the ark, and God saves him and his family from the flood. God establishes a covenant with Noah, now he and his family will start a new life under this covenant. Peter says God renews ourcovenant with Him through the waters of baptism (second reading). God has given us new life. In the Gospel, Jesus is the new covenant who conquers Satan and all his temptations.

Jesus stays in the desert for forty days and forty nights. Satan throws Him all kinds of temptation to test His resolve to embrace the mission entrusted by the Father. Moses stays forty days and forty nights at Mt. Sinai without food and drink alone with God (Ex. 34:28). For forty years, the people of Israel wandered in the desert (Deut. 8:2). Jesus relives the forty days and years of Moses and the people of Israel, but as an obedient Son victorious of all the temptations of Satan.

Change is not automatic, no matter how good the leader or the program. Everyone must change; it could start with the leader instituting structural and system change. People must be prepared and ready to adjust to the changes: otherwise, real change will not happen. Opportunities could then be wasted in the process, and change will even become more difficult. "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.” (Mk. 2:22)

The Season of Lent invites us to reflect on the necessity of a conversion (change of heart) to prepare for salvation. This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the Gospel(Mk. 1: 14-15). In the beginning, Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of God in their midst by His deeds and words. Those with receptive hearts receive His message: humbly, ordinary people, and surprisingly, many public sinners like the prostitutes and tax collectors. The Kairos opportune time has come, repent metanoia and have a change of heart, and believe pisteuete in the Gospel.

Many people do not even believe that they need a change of attitude because they do not acknowledge their weaknesses and failings. Others do not even know that they have a bad and terrible attitude: The desire for power, pleasure without commitment, and possession with no concern for the rights and needs of others are contrary to Christian standards; thus, calls for a change of heart, a conversion. If today you hear His voice harden not your hearts.

Lent reminds us again of the three great disciplines of prayer, fasting, and repentance. Despite Jesus’ manifestation of the Kingdom of God, many do not heed the call to repentance. Conversion requires a complete change of heart metanoia. Often, it requires hard work to make the shallow, rocky, and thorny heart conducive for the Word of God to take root and bear many fruits. To repent means to soften the heart to God’s Word, to make it fertile and ready to bear fruit. That is, become intentional disciples of Jesus.

The Gospel challenges us to take advantage of the right time. The 40 days of Lent could be our days in the desert,praying and fasting, communing with the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. A spiritual recharge and restore, to be grace filled and blessed in many aspects. May Jesus be our constant resolve to humble ourselves and walk the path of authentic conversion. If we are humble, we realize how small we are and how much we need God, then we cannot fail. (St. Mother Theresa)