Repentance

“Repentance is the door through which we enter Lent, the starting-point of our journey to Pascha. And to repent signifies far more than self-pity or futile regret over things done in the past. The Greek term metanoia means ‘change of mind’: to repent is to be renewed, to be transformed in our inward viewpoint, to attain a fresh way of looking at our relationship to God and to others. The fault of the Pharisee is that he has no desire to change his outlook; he is complacent, self-satisfied, and so he allows no place for God to act within him. The Publican, on the other hand, truly longs for a ‘change of mind’ he is self-dissatisfied, ‘poor in spirit’, and where there is this saving self-dissatisfaction there is room for God to act.”

The Lenten Triodion. St. Tikhon’s Seminary Press, South Canaan, PA. p.44

“ The parable of the Prodigal forms an exact ikon of repentance in its different stages. Sin is exile, enslavement to strangers, hunger. Repentance is the return from exile to our true home; it is to receive back our inheritance and freedom in the Father’s house. But repentance implies action: ‘I will rise up and go . . .’(verse18). To repent is not just to feel dissatisfied, but to make a decision and to act upon it.” The Lenten Triodion, St. Tikhon’s Seminary Press. p. 44

“No one is so patient and so merciful as God, but even He does not forgive those who do not repent. The God of love is also a God of righteousness, and when Christ comes again in glory, he will come as our judge. ’Behold the goodness and severity of God’ (Rom. 11:22).” The Lenten Triodion, St. Tikhons’ Seminary Press. p.45

But it is all true all these things are difficult to man, nor does the condition of his frailty permit that any should be without blemish. Therefore the last remedy is this, that we have recourse to repentance, which has not the least place among the virtues, because it is a correction of oneself; that when we have happened to fail either in deed or in word, we mat immediately come to a better mind, and confess that we have offended, and entreat pardon from God, which according to His mercy He will not deny, except to those who persist in their error. Great is the aid, great the solace of repentance. That is the healing of wounds and offences, that hope, that the harbour of safety; and he who takes away this cuts off from himself the way of salvation, never necessary for him. But we, even though there is no offence of ours, yet ought to confess to God, and entreat pardon for our faults, and to give thanks even in evils. Let us always offer this obedience to our Lord. —Justin Martyr