VOICE OF THE LOGOS (23): REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT, YEAR 1

Can Last-Minute Repentance/Prayer Erase a Lifetime of Sin?

First Reading: Ezekiel 18:21-28
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 129(130)
Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26
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It is a common scene in movies and real-life executions, where someone about to face death is told to say their last prayers. Armed robbers, before pulling the trigger, sometimes mockingly tell their victims, “Say your last prayers.” Prisoners on death row, moments before being shot by a firing squad or hanged, are given the chance to utter a final plea to God. When an airplane is about to crash, passengers scream, cry, and hurriedly say whatever words they believe might grant them divine mercy. But does such a last prayer truly erase a lifetime of sin? Do these last-minute prayers hold the same weight as the devotion of someone who has spent their life in fidelity to God? Can a person who has rejected God all their life suddenly whisper a sincere act of contrition and receive the same reward as a faithful soul who has endured suffering and sacrifice in obedience to God? These questions unsettle us because they challenge our moral instincts regarding justice and fairness. Should someone who has deliberately lived in sin and only turns to God out of fear in their final breath receive the same mercy as a person who has laboured in righteousness? The readings of the day compel us to wrestle with these unsettling realities.

The first reading from Ezekiel 18:21-28 directly addresses this controversy. God declares that if a wicked person turns away from their sins and does what is right, they shall live and not die. But if a righteous person abandons their righteousness and embraces wickedness, they shall die in their sin. This passage eliminates the idea of accumulated merit – past goodness does not guarantee salvation if one dies in sin, just as past wickedness does not necessarily condemn a person if they truly repent. The Hebrew term shuv (שׁוּב), meaning “to turn” or “to return,” is at the heart of this passage, being the hallmark of the Lenten message (returning to God). It conveys a radical shift, a complete change, rather than a mere verbal acknowledgement of wrongdoing. The “sitz im leben” (life setting) of Ezekiel’s message was the exile of Israel, a period of judgement in which many believed they were suffering for the sins of their ancestors. However, God lays emphasis on personal responsibility – each individual is judged by their own actions, not by their history. This applies directly to the idea of last-minute repentance. If a sinner truly turns back to God with a sincere heart, no matter how late, God will forgive. But the sincerity of this return is key, not simply a desperate last-minute plea because of the fear of death.

Psalm 130, the Responsorial Psalm, deepens this mystery: “If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But with You, there is forgiveness, that You may be revered.” This passage acknowledges the human reality that no one is truly worthy before God. It shifts the emphasis from fairness to mercy – if God were to judge with strictness, none would be saved. However, the Psalm does not suggest cheap grace; rather, it calls for reverent fear of the Lord, recognizing that forgiveness is granted not as a loophole but as a gift that should inspire devotion and change of heart. It declares that God’s mercy is available but must be received with awe and humility. Still, the question lingers: is the mercy of God limited by time? Can repentance be valid even when it is done purely out of fear of death rather than genuine love for God?

The Gospel reading from Matthew (5:20-26) intensifies the discussion. Jesus raises the bar for righteousness, warning that one’s virtue must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees to enter the kingdom of heaven. He then speaks about reconciliation, warning that if one does not settle their disputes and make peace, they will face judgment. The “sitz im leben” of this passage is Jesus’ teaching on the deeper meaning of the Law. The religious leaders of His time focused on external observance, but Jesus shifts attention to the heart’s disposition. The Greek word metanoia (μετάνοια), meaning “repentance” or “a change of mind,” is central to this teaching. True conversion is not just about making peace before death or saying a last-minute prayer; it is about an internal change that begins the moment one turns to God. Metanoia implies an ongoing conversion, not a desperate plea at the final moment. A last-minute prayer may be valid if it is accompanied by true metanoia, but without a transformed heart, it risks being empty words. The repentant thief beside Christ at the crucifixion (in Lk 23:40-41) serves as an example of true metanoia – a genuine change of heart – rather than a mere last-minute plea for mercy. Unlike a desperate cry born solely out of fear, his repentance was marked by deep self-awareness and a recognition of justice. He rebuked the other thief for mocking Christ, acknowledged the fairness of their punishment, humbly admitted his own guilt, and, moved by faith, turned to Jesus with a plea for mercy. His conversion was not just about seeking escape from judgement but about embracing Christ in trust and humility.

Three key lessons emerge from these readings:

First, God’s mercy is radical, but it is not mechanical. Last-minute repentance is possible, but it must be authentic. One cannot manipulate God by assuming that a quick prayer before death guarantees salvation. The readings make it clear that God sees the heart – He knows when repentance is real and when it is merely driven by fear of consequences. The Hebrew concept of “shuv” reminds us that repentance is about a complete return to God, not just words spoken out of desperation. The notion that one can sin all their life and casually repent at the last moment is a dangerous presumption. True repentance requires a movement of the heart, not just fear of impending judgement. This is the danger of treating God’s mercy as a safety net rather than a call to genuine conversion. Ezekiel’s message clarifies that what matters is the state of the soul at the moment of judgement, but this is not an invitation to delay repentance. Instead, it is a challenge to live in a state of readiness, always prepared to stand before God.

Second, righteousness is a lifelong journey, not a static achievement. Righteousness is not about accumulating good deeds but about maintaining a relationship with God. A righteous person who turns to sin loses the grace they once had, just as a sinner who repents gains new life. This is worrisome because it contradicts human notions of fairness, but lays emphasis on personal responsibility. God does not tally past deeds like a ledger; He looks at the heart in the present moment. This means that salvation is never “earned” by a lifetime of good works alone, it is always a matter of grace. The challenge is not to rely on a single moment of repentance but to cultivate a heart that remains open to God throughout life.

Finally, the response of God to last-minute repentance is not about human fairness but divine generosity. The psalm reminds us that if God were purely just in a human sense, none would be saved. His mercy is not given based on human calculations but on His infinite love. However, this does not give us a license to delay repentance. Jesus’ call to reconciliation and metanoia urges us to live in a state of constant conversion rather than gambling on a final moment of grace. It is not enough to pray a last-minute prayer while harbouring hatred or unresolved conflict. Jesus’ teaching makes it clear: being right with God requires being right with others. The call to settle disputes before offering worship shows that repentance is relational – it heals not only the soul but also the brokenness in human relationships. A last-minute conversion may save a soul in God’s mercy, but it forfeits the richness of a life spent walking with God, growing in holiness, and transforming the world through love. It is better to live each day in a spirit of metanoia than to gamble one’s eternity on a final breath.

O that today you would listen to his VOICE, harden not your hearts! (Ps. 95:7)

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Shalom!
© Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Seminário Padre Pedro Magnone, São Paulo, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com

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