Repentance Reexamined
Sermon preached by Fr. Antony Hughes on Sunday, September 6, 2026
The Gospel today points us to the central practice in the Christian life. Repentance, the changing of our minds and our perspectives. Repentance is so much more than reiterating our particular sins one by one. It certainly may begin there and yet that is not its central focus. The "unworthy" servants in the reading display a very different perspective from that of the kingdom. It is their perspectives that were in need of changing.
The Lord's first sermon recorded in St. Mark's Gospel is short, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." We need to spend time listening for Jesus is preaching this sermon to each of us in the solitude and silence of our hearts. How can we hear his voice if we are continually talking over it? Take the risk and listen for his still, small voice. The whisper of God.
Olivier Clement writes that "True knowledge is to be aware of God in all things. This brings such happiness that the heart is consumed in love and the person is ready to die for the beloved, that is to say for all and each one individually."
The banquet in scripture almost always represents the kingdom of heaven. It is a reference to the Mystical Supper where we sit with the Lord and share in his life through the Eucharistic meal. The invitation has gone out to the whole world, but who will choose to attend? The intimation is that few of the invitees will. But the Lord desires a full table so he opens the banquet to everyone, good and bad alike. How unlike him we often are!
The "unworthy" ones are those who refuse to hear and believe his words, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." They are attached to the temporal concerns of life. In other words, repent of not believing that the kingdom is here. Change your minds. Where the Lord is there also is his kingdom. Do you believe the Son of God has come in the flesh? Then his kingdom is in us, among us, and around us in every place and time. Christ is most definitely in our midst!
We may not know how to see it. If we see it only in the good times, then we have not yet truly seen it. "Yay, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." Yes, even there. Faith is not situational. It does not come and go due to changes in life. It walks beside us through it all. We can, at any and every moment sink into the arms of Christ if we only will.
St. Gregory of Nyssa writes that "What is hidden within will cover up completely what is seen from the outside." What is "hidden within?" The kingdom of heaven, the temple of the Holy Spirit, the Pearl of Great Price.
When life sends challenges stop, breathe deeply, look within and listen. The Comforter resides in our hearts. He longs to bring us peace, love, and joy even when we cannot easily find them. Look to your heart for Hesychios of Batos reminds us, "as a coal catches fire and the fire lights a candle, so does God set our hearts ablaze as it looks in contemplation at him who is dwelling in our hearts."
Do you believe the "kingdom is at hand', then look within, the fire is already burning, the Divine Light is shining, the grace of the Most Holy Trinity has set a table for us there and is, even now, inviting us to dine with him.
I want to end with a final quote as an instruction for life from a holy saint from Crimea, St Luke of Voyno- Yasenetsky.
Be kinder than necessary...live simply, love generously, care deeply for the needs of your neighbor, speak sofly...And leave the rest to the Lord. It is not faith, nor dogmatic, nor mysticism, nor asceticism, nor long prayers, but love that makes one a true Christian. Everything becomes pointless without this fundamental thing - love for our neighbor.
Repentance is to give everything up except love.