The Church teaches that repentance is a turning away from sin. Imagine us standing with our backs to God—repentance isn’t just about rejecting sin; it’s about turning toward Him.
Now, picture a child with their back turned to you. What’s your first thought? They’re probably hiding something!
This is often how it is with sin. We feel ashamed and want to keep it hidden, tucked away in the dark. We fear exposing our weaknesses and failures to the Lord, so we turn away, convinced that if He doesn’t see it, we can avoid the discomfort of confronting it ourselves.
But true repentance—turning back to God—means inviting His light into those hidden places. Yes, that light exposes the ugliness of sin. But it’s also the divine light that heals, cleanses, and drives out the darkness.
It’s natural to want to hide, to shield our wounds and failings. But repentance calls us to take the brave step of turning back, of bringing even the most shameful parts of ourselves to God. It’s acknowledging, “This is something I want to keep hidden, but Lord, I’m bringing it to You.”
In that moment of vulnerability, we discover that God’s light doesn’t just expose—it restores. His mercy transforms even the darkest corners of our lives, making them places of grace and renewal. So, let us not fear repentance, but embrace it as the act of love it truly is: a turning away from sin and a turning toward the One who is always ready to forgive.