WHICH CONVERSION?

With the third Sunday of Easter a jubilation spreads throughout the earth: Jubilate Deo omnis terra (song of the Introit). The reason is threefold: the renewed youth of the Spirit and filial dignity (cf. collection) together with the gift of the remission of sins. This last aspect runs through the entire liturgy of the Word. If Peter urges us to change our lives (cf. Acts 3.19), John reminds us that Christ is the victim of expiation for our sins (cf. 1 John 2.2). Luke, in the Gospel, writes that in the name of Christ conversion and forgiveness of sins will be preached to all peoples (cf. Luke 24.47). But to what conversion are we called? Let’s say straight away that evangelical conversion is not so much just becoming ethically better. To achieve this it would not be necessary to be Christian: for every man is called to be just towards his neighbour. No, to convert it is necessary to feel attracted to Christ, and respond to him with all your heart and soul. It is a cliché to say that sinners should convert to become good. In reality, according to the Gospel, everyone must convert (even the good ones) to become children. For Paul, conversion means making the Lord one’s own (phronein, Phil 2.5); for Jesus to enter into the perfection of the Father, who makes his sun rise on the good and the bad, and makes it rain on the just and the unjust (cf. Mt 5.45). Pay attention to these words of the Master who do not ask for the impossible. What does this perfection consist of? Simple, the Father does not separate men into deserving or undeserving. For Him all are His children. His action is therefore not conditioned by acceptance or rejection. Of course, He pours Himself fully into those who welcome His love, but towards those who reject Him He does not retreat, resentful and offended. This attitude constitutes his perfection. This love without interest and without division characterized the life of Jesus and must also be the internal posture of each of us. This requires conversion because it is the opposite of our sensitivity which is always easy to categorise, distinguish and unfortunately condemn.

Commentary by b. Sandro Carotta, osb
Abbazia di Praglia (Italy)

Translation by f. Mark Hargreaves,
Prinknash Abbey