Let Us Repent, Who knows...| Fadachi, SSP.

 

LET US REPENT, WHO KNOWS...

Rev. Fr. Martins Chibuike Obasi, 

(FADACHI, SSPCIWA-CESACC).

Night time is the time when things starts to quiet and soften no matter how difficult orchallenging things have been in the day. At night, the stars pierce the sky and you see themoon-light shinning. Night is the time when the soul stretches out to God and sometimes we ask deeper questions about our vocation, career, family, friends and finance at this time. Night is that time when you can be more vulnerable in a conversation with your best friend or distant friend.

Similarly, the words spoken at night are piercing, powerful and painful at times but enough to cause repentance, resolution, restitution, reparation or relationship. Sometimes, it is only at night that you recall persons, events, moments, etc. Such memories could either cause a teary eyes or thankful heart. Suffice to define night as time of clarity or change.

Years ago, when I was a teenager, I used to consider night as the time for pregnant mothers to put to bed. Secondly, as the time when people can only die. Furthermore, as the time when dangerous things could happen. A time for witches and wizards to fly and attend meetings ontrees and roof tops. Therefore, I prayed intensely at night before night rest. Those prayer moments that require moving of the head and tightening of the eyes with sufficient mention of holy ghost fire.

Nicodemus simple went to Jesus. For Nicodemus night is a time of encounter. It is the time torecognisethesupremacy of Jesus as the Master, the way, the truth and the life. He simply visits Jesus. Remember Nicodemus is not a small man in terms of position and possession. Yet, he gets up, searches his mind, prepared himself, and departs to meet Jesus. Perhaps he departs to meet the only person who could truly search his heart without condemnation. Perhaps he departs because now, there is need for fresh impartation. Perhaps, he departs because unless a journey begins, there is no arrival. Perhaps, he departs because without a pilgrim is one who is on a journey for a spiritual purpose. Perhaps, he departs because repentance is an intentional movement from the self to the Father. Perhaps, he departs because except we recognise our prodigality, we cannot refresh our minds to remember the promised of Jesus Christ - " I will be with you until the end of time".

What a man of curiosity! Are you curious enough to know more about yourself like Nicodemus? Every patient also departs to meet a doctor who examines the body and not the soul. The sole reason why Nicodemus departs at night is for his 'soul purpose'. He asks, " How can I be born again?" Here is a man, not a baby. John's Gospel frequently distinguishes between the " below" and the " above". The " above" is the realm of God working through Jesus to bring light and to invite belief and the coming of eternal life. The "below" is the realm of this world, with darkness, drowsiness and resistance to belief inJesus Christ, the Way, the truth and the life.

Friends, it happened by night. The man above seeks to meet Jesus to be born again " from above". It is dangerous to remain below. It is discouraging to live without results whether you are a student, labourer, religious, Catholic priests, nun, doctor, etc. All the more, it is heartbreaking to claim to walk with Jesus without results. Nicodemus realises this and goes toJesus by night for the vetting of his results, and the outcome reads: "unless you are born of water and the holy spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God." When I meet Jesus, I catch a glimpse of how the" morning"or"afternoon"of my life has been in terms of my relationship with him and my friends. I realise how difficult life has been because I ignored him and failed to fix a time for our meeting. Sometimes I woke up to pray and struggle for concentration because there are a lot waiting for me on my desk. When you meet Jesus you literally become vulnerable and your ego bows to Him. That moment becomes the night of encounter.

Remember, I am not using night here to mean dusk. I am not referring to 7pm, 8pm, 9pm, 10pm, 11pm or what you call " midnight prayer". No. I refer to the moment of encounter with Jesus. It is the time when everything else is quiet - people's judgement of your life, your past mistakes, yourpresent sin, your pride, your anger, your arrogance, etc., When they all recognise the need foreseeing the logos himself, the word made flesh!

Let us repent who knows the time Jesus will come again. Let us repent who knows if that is the last action Jesus is waiting for us to take. Let us repent who knows if that is the reason why we are stagnant in many areas of life. Let us repent who knows when we shall leave this life and meet Jesus. Let us repent, I know he will grant us eternal life no matter how bad we think we have been in the past.