Canadians are known for the instinctual way in which we apologise. Some suggest that Canadians will say ‘sorry’ even when we are not at fault, like when someone bumps into us. The response is essentially intuitive, a polite way of acknowledging something problematic has happened and offering a simple resolve to the potential discomfort that has been caused. Saying ‘sorry’ can thus be more of an indication of the politeness of Canadian culture.
Canadians are known for the instinctual way in which we apologise. Do we think that same polite response might have stopped the flood in the time of Noah? Do we believe that, in a world where God saw humans as filled with evil thoughts to the point where God regretted creating humanity, people could have changed God’s mind by simply saying ‘sorry’ more often? To what extent does the polite, instinctual response of saying ‘sorry’ contribute to healing, hope, and transformation? Is saying ‘sorry’ the same as repenting?
We are asked in the baptismal covenant: “Will you persevere in resisting evil, and whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?” This challenge feels like more than uttering an instinctual ‘sorry’. For starters, to persevere in resisting evil involves acknowledging what evil is. It is knowing what evil thoughts will undermine our relationship with God at this point in the history of the world. It is recognising when our choices compromise the well being of ourselves, others, and/or creation. It is understanding the ways in which our attitudes, behaviours, expectations, and actions can be sinful.
To persevere in resisting evil starts by knowing what is evil, and yet, we don’t talk about evil and sin a lot. Doing so feels uncomfortable. Evil and sin are associated with ‘bad people’. We don’t want to think of ourselves as one of those. We are far more comfortable blaming other people for what is wrong with the world and avoiding looking inward at our own contributions to the challenges and imperfections of humanity.
We are far more comfortable blaming other people, and yet, in our baptismal covenant we commit to persevere in resisting evil, and whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord. Each time we renew our Baptismal Covenant, we commit to looking inward. Each time we offer words of confession, we are supposed to reflect on our own choices, attitudes, and behaviours at an individual and a systemic level so that we can confess those sins.
How deeply have we thoughts about our own sinfulness? To what extent can we recognise that our votes on election day, our purchases, our explicit and implicit support of inequality, and sometimes even our interactions with others, could cause harm? Can we name those acts, those choices, those attitudes, and behaviours that are sinful and evil today? Do we think that the people, in the time of Noah, were aware of how evil and sinful they were behaving? Would things have been different if they knew their choices pained God to the point where God regretted creating humanity? When looking at our world today, does God regret creating humanity again?
What does it look like to persevere in resisting evil today? What does it look like to acknowledge our own sinfulness? What does it look like to reflect on those problematic things we have done and have left undone, when we recite the words of confession? What happens when we recognise we have fallen into sin? What does it mean for us to repent and return to the Lord?
What does it look like to repent and return to the Lord? Is saying ‘sorry’ enough or does the act of repentance require more? Shouldn’t an act of repentance challenge us to change our behaviours so that we are less likely to repeat those sins? To what extent does our repentance, and God’s continual grace and forgiveness, contribute to transforming our attitudes, expectations, and behaviours? How are we made better through repentance and forgiveness?
Maya Angelou is known to have said: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” This is the foundation of this baptismal covenant statement. We are challenged to know better and do better. We are blessed by God’s forgiveness and help in this task. May we perpetually persevere in resisting evil and, whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord. This pray as we sing: #606 There’s a Wideness in God’s mercy.
