“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15
Christ speaks these words to us at the beginning of his earthly ministry. And, this is the task for all of us — to “repent, and believe in the gospel.” Because of our fallenness, the return to our heavenly home requires a process of repenting of our sins and converting our hearts furthermore to God.
This is a lifelong process though, consisting of daily efforts to seek out the Lord. The Catechism gives us a beautiful yet challenging description of how we can convert our hearts daily.
“Conversion is accomplished in daily life by gestures of reconciliation, concern for the poor, the exercise and defense of justice and right, by the admission of faults to one's brethren, fraternal correction, revision of life, examination of conscience, spiritual direction, acceptance of suffering, endurance of persecution for the sake of righteousness. Taking up one's cross each day and following Jesus is the surest way of penance.” CCC 1435
That’s quite the list! But again — it’s not something that we do on a yearly or monthly basis. We are called to make small, conscious efforts daily, which also helps make this list seem less intimidating because we chip away at it little by little. This isn’t something that is pushed to the peripheries of our lives, but should remain at the center of our days.