John the Baptist suddenly appears, preaching in the desert. His message was very simple: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

To repent is, first of all, to evaluate what one is doing and consider the harm it causes to ourselves or others.

The second step is to abandon that harmful practice and go exactly in the opposite direction. Think about that harmful habit and try to be completely honest.

John the Baptist gives us the greatest motivation to leave behind everything that, far from adding to our lives, robs us of peace with God. He declared, “The Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

The Kingdom of Heaven is the person of Jesus, who comes to extend His love and forgiveness to us. The Lord approaches our lives, not to condemn us for our mistakes, but to rescue us from that futile way of living.

It may be difficult to give up that hidden habit, to separate from that pernicious person, or to desist from that improper business; but by turning in the opposite direction, we will find ourselves once again in the sweet arms of God, and that is truly invaluable.

The Lord says: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.”