This morning's lessons describe the two aspects of our Christian longing, our hope, and our desire, one always very welcome, one usually not so welcome:

Two aspects, one welcome and longed for:

"Comfort, comfort my people, speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins."

Two aspects, one not so welcome:

The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance

John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins

God sent his messengers the prophets to preach repentance . . . let us heed their warning and forsake our sins.

I want to hear that my iniquity is pardoned; I want to hear that the warfare is ended, we want to hear good tidings, heralded from the mountaintop, we want to be gathered into his arms like lambs, carried in his bosom, gently led, like those who are with young, across formerly rough places that have been made smooth for us, through a wilderness now cut through with a safe level highway for us.

We want the pardon without the repentance, the good news, the glad tidings, without the preparation on our part, without an abiding commitment on our part, without being held accountable, responsible

No one wants to be oppressed by his past, enslaved by the history of things now done, tyrannized by peoples long term memories that keep the knowledge of the iniquity, and give short shift to the double pardon.

How often do we insist, "The other person must take the initiative, I too was sinned against, what about her repentance? What about his apology?" That isn't your first concern and is never subject to your control. Indeed, whether asking another person to repent is appropriate, I don't know. I do know it's almost never effective.

John the Baptist seemed able to get away with demanding that people repent, we may not be so gifted. And even he only got away with it for awhile.

There is a model of forgiveness in Scripture than does not seem to depend explicitly, overtly on repentance. We have it from the cross, forgiveness from the dying Lord for those who tormented him and did not repent.

And we have it in this morning's lyrical passage from Isaiah, where the Lord seems to have resolved to restore, regardless.

I will forgive, they have suffered long enough.

That great heart of love grieves and longs for restoration, and has alone the option of saying enough, even if there is no repentance, I will restore I will forgive, I will pardon, I will again embrace.

There is another model of forgiveness, just as unconditional, but in which we do have a role to play, in which our participation is important and expected.

The Prodigal Son model of forgiveness.

Unforgettable once you see it, but usually unnoticed, is that crucial moment - the father rushes forward first, toward his son, and embraces him. The son has not yet apologized, not yet said he was sorry. He does after that, but that is very significant for our faith - the son apologizes after he has been forgiven and received and restored by a joyful father. Then, and probably only then, the son is able to apologize.

Repentance is turning, he did turn toward home, he did not apologize or make amends, or articulate his repentance, but he did turn, turn away from what he was doing, turned from where he was, and turned toward home, a real home, his genuine home. He repented and returned to love, and was again able to also love in return, as a response, even it seems, to begin to love himself again.

Repentance may be the beginning of forgiveness or it may be the result, it may be preparatory, or it may be responsive, but it is always an integral part of reconciliation.

If you are involved in such a sad and sorry situation, you are in need of repentance. Indeed the other may also be in need of as much repentance or more in need than you are yourself. But you too, need to repent, regardless. The Church's rather unsentimental assumption is that you cannot have been utterly guiltless. Unless of course, you, too are without sin. A second Virgin Mary. Not likely. We may be devoted to her, but I am not sure we match her.

This is how the warfare ends and the comfort comes.

And in cases where we have been guilty and to blame, this is how the iniquity is pardoned and the double portion given after all our sins.

And in those cases where we have been the victims, victims of others and victims of ourselves, this is where the tender embrace of our Lord begins, carrying us a shepherd carries lambs, leading us as though we were with young, and so slowed down, made more fragile, more vulnerable, needing greater care and more understanding.

Repentance has little to do with sackcloth and ashes, humiliation and degradation, all that comes before.

Repentance has everything to do with the decision to turn around, to go back home, to return to love, and health and wholeness and salvation, a return to comfort through the wilderness, over the rough places, back form the land that is waste.

Repentance is one of the most glorious moments in the saga of salvation.

O Lord, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance, and prepare the way for our salvation, give us grace to heed their warning, and forsake our sins that we may greet with Joy the coming of your Son.