April 14, 2024.
“Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them: Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24, 45-47)
“Gospel” means “good news”. And the evangelist Lucas in a few words summarizes this “good news”: there exists another life after death, as is shown by the fact that Christ has risen. Furthermore, this other life, which will be eternal, is denoted by the forgiveness of sins, by the salvation which Christ has attained for us with his redeeming death. However there is one condition: it is necessary to bring about the conversion. Without conversion, without repentance, the love of God cannot save us, the same, as the rain doesn’t wet us when we protect ourselves with an umbrella.
Therefore, we must practice and preach the conversion. Not as an end of itself, but as a necessary means to reach the promised prize: the forgiveness of the sins and eternal life. We could add another thing: as a useful means to make God happy, that we will be happy to leave our life of sin and advance on the road to sainthood.
Practice and Preach conversion, that is the key. And conversion is practiced through forgiveness. A forgiveness which God asks and that is received from God. A forgiveness that we ask of the neighbor we have injured and that is conferred when it is He that has injured us.
Intention: Remove from your way that which prevents you from approaching God. Convert sincerely and confess. Furthermore, give your neighbor the gilt of forgiveness, which you have received from God.