“The original word for repent is the Greek word ‘metanoia’ which literally means to ‘change your mind, to change direction’ … and this word has nothing to do with guilt or shame. So, John the Baptist calls his audience to a thorough change of heart and mind. Repentance in this context literally means ‘turning around,’ ‘moving in an opposite direction.’ Repentance for John is an action and it is not meant to be about feeling shame or feeling bad. It is instead about thinking differently and therefore acting differently.”

Sermon by Alfredo Feregrino at All Saints Church, Pasadena, on Sunday, December 8, 2019. Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10, and Matthew 3:1-12.

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I don’t know if this has ever happened to you but sometimes, we are so certain so sure with a crystal clear mind of the direction that we are going until we realize that we are going in the wrong direction. Right?

And this often happens to me when I am in the car with my wife. I do not know why, but we  tend to choose different directions to arrive at the same destination.

In Seattle, where I come from, the traffic is horrible. Because of Seattle’s geography we are surrounded by many lakes and bridges and new construction,  so we have to be creative to beat the traffic.

I always like to use the freeway because I think it is the faster way, but my wife hates waiting in stop and go traffic on the freeways and streets with big traffic lights. She always likes to use her own way, preferring to zigzag through the little streets to avoid the gridlock.

So, when we are in the car together you can just imagine our harmonious and friendly disagreements: “Go this way, take this exit, if you turn here it will be quicker, etc.”

Does this sound familiar?

And yes, sometimes, I realize that I totally need to move in an opposite direction, I realize that I need to change the direction that I am going and follow her suggestion because…

I have to confess, that most of the time she is right.

In the gospel that we just heard today, John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

In fact, this is Jesus’ very first message in this gospel translation one chapter later. Repent is the very first word that Jesus uses in this gospel.

It is  interesting to know that the word repent that we use today has not been translated with a great deal of accuracy or precision from the original Greek text.

In fact, the meaning or connotation we give to the word “repent” has nothing to do with the original word in the text and it is a confusing concept for many of us today.

Several dictionaries describe the word repent like this: “to feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one’s wrongdoing or sin.”

We usually associate the word “repent” with guilt and shame.  And we have used this word over the years to abuse people in our churches within our many Christian denominations,  telling our people that if they do not conform to and obey our interpretation of the bible, they will be on the way to eternal damnation.

And you know what…  this is wrong, wrong!

But the original word for repent is the Greek word “metanoia” which literally means to “change your mind, to change direction…  and this word has nothing to do with guilt or shame.

So, John the Baptist calls his audience to a thorough change of heart and mind.

Repentance in this context literally means “turning around”, moving in an opposite direction. Repentance for John is an action and it is not meant to be about feeling shame or feeling bad. It is instead about thinking differently and therefore acting differently.

Metanoia is not about just changing your mind quickly without reflection. Metanoia is about making a deeper and more mature decision to stop, to examine one’s choice of direction, recognize the need for change and turn around, to face a new direction.

And new directions are full of potential, loaded with new possibilities. And new possibilities bring new beginnings.

But you know what, sometimes we use our minds to close off and avoid changes. Sometimes our minds shut down and then we cannot see the new possibilities that our imagination is capable of creating.

A  teacher once in High School asked us this question:

How do you put an elephant in a shoebox? And we all gave him many responses and in the end, he said… (you put an elephant in a shoe box ) by reading the instructions.

And yes, sometimes it is difficult to change our minds and hearts if we do not know how to make the change. And we have to face the reality to accept that most of the time we do not have the instructions.

And here in this gospel, John the Baptist exhorts us to make a radical change in our lives but….he does not tell us how to do this…right?

I took a class in Spirituality at the School of Theology and Ministry in Seattle few years ago… and what I learned in that class , I think can be a good beginning to start making that kind of radical change in our minds and hearts. In a way this statement is just like the instructions for putting an elephant in a shoebox.

This is a statement that always repeat when I have a conversation with someone that is reluctant to go to church or someone who questions and doubts the whole concept of  “organized religion in general”

After having long conversation on faith, life, relationships, spirituality, you name it , I always say to them, that it does not matter if you go to church or not,  (I said to them not to you… we are happy that you are here)

I say to them that if they want to change their life direction, they only need to do 3 things in life everyday:

-Give gratitude, and  be grateful everyday
-Pray or express a sacred intention every day
-Take a life affirming action, or do a random act of kindness… every day.

That’s it… only three things. Yes, it is so simple. Just try it.

These three steps are baby steps to making a deeper and more mature decision to turn around and face a new direction.

Remember what I said before, Metanoia is not about just changing your mind quickly without reflection.

Many studies found that on average, it takes more than 2 months before a new behavior becomes automatic. Other research suggests that it only takes 21 days to form a new habit.

But, it is true that we can create new habits and behaviors and new ways of being in the world. A world in which a change of our minds and hearts can create new possibilities, new beginnings.

And those beginnings can be as simple as making the call that we are afraid to make. We can start new beginnings by forgiving those who have wounded us, by spending time with our kids, by visiting our lonely parents, by giving flowers to our spouses or partners and telling them that we love them.

A new beginning can also be the day that we finally decide to become clean and sober for good, changing our direction away from addiction and toward a path of recovery.

So, I wonder, what are the behaviors or habits that block you from making a radical change?

I wonder what kind of new possibilities and new beginnings you can create in your life now?

And even if you do not have the strength and courage to change direction or create a new beginning at this moment, you do not have to worry,  because God is active in your life… when we find that we cannot make the change ourselves, we need to know that God is at work in our lives.

We can simply ask as it is written in psalm 51… “Create in me a clean heart, oh God and put a new and right Spirit within me”

After all, God is an expert in new beginnings and new creations right?

This is what the scriptures tell us. Just read the story in Genesis where God, out of chaos bring new life. Or read the stories of resurrection where new life and new beginnings are a reality.

Yes, new beginnings are possible. And this is the Good news that this Gospel proclaims.

New beginnings invite us to enter in a new world of real possibilities because God is always at work in our lives. And this is what the kingdom of heaven is all about ….

In fact …in these times, it is imperative that we change the way we see the world, change our minds and hearts, so  we can imagine what is possible. Our imagination structures our world.

Our imaginations help us to see what is possible in our own lives… if we can do this for ourselves we can do this for our communities, for our countries, and our world.

So, in this season of Advent, a season that marks a new beginning,

I invite you to enter deeper and examine yourself to see where you need a radical change of mind and heart,  what habits and behaviors you need to set aside to be able to see this new world of possibilities, different than the world that you know now,  where new beginnings can become reality.

I invite you to start with baby steps and recognize the need for change, to recognize the need to change your mind and face a new direction.

And if you ever drive with your spouse, your partner, your significant other or your friend, remember that turning around, and to change direction may not be so bad after all…

… and can open a whole new set of possibilities.

AMEN