Thursday within the Octave of Easter

Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away, and that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment and send you the Christ already appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the times of universal restoration of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.

Repentance is key to our faith. God knows we are not perfect and so He sent His Son to die for us so our sins might be washed away. Jesus broke his Body and poured out his Blood to feed our faith and cleanse our offenses. All we have to do is come to God with humble and contrite hearts and accept the saving grace He offers us through the sacraments. If we do so, then He will refresh our souls and lead us to eternal life with Him. Of course, true repentance isn’t always easy. Sometimes it requires us to give up something we enjoy. Other times it requires us to amend our lives and strive to be better people. However, the sacrifice God asks of us is a mere drop in the bucket when compared to the ocean of Divine Mercy He has prepared for us.

What sins do we need to repent for? How can we cultivate humble and contrite hearts? Are we willing to accept God’s grace and all that it will require from us?

O Lord, convert our hearts and wipe away our sins.

Amen.