Jesus begins his ministry by calling people to repent. In today’s Gospel, he repeats the call to repentance twice. Thomas Keating says that repent means to change the direction in which we are looking for happiness. The programs developed by the false acquisitive, consumerist self. Not being able to get our needs met when we were growing up and emerging into adulthood led us to create false programs for happiness. Pushing the hurtful stuff deep out of sight, we found ways to satisfy our need for power and control, affection and esteem, and security. These programs have become our addictions. Jesus is calling us to authentic life, life in the true or inner self where God finds us and heals us of our addictions. Continue reading →