Moshiach and Teshuva Time

The Talmud distinguishes between two types of Teshuva, or penitence. The first is teshuva me'yira, or penitence that results from the fear of punishment. This type of teshuva has the power to turn all of one's intended transgressions into the lighter form of accidental transgressions. Yet, such teshuva lacks the power to completely cleanse the soul.

The second type of teshuva is Teshuva me'ahava, or penitence that results from the love of G-d. A person awakens to such penitence as soon as he or she realizes the infinite goodness of G-d, and contemplates the thousands of favors He does for each of us every single hour. When you love someone, the last thing in the world you want to do is to cause them sorrow or disappointment. When we realize how terribly our misdeeds sadden Hashem, we "return", or repent out of sheer love. Such penitence has the power to turn willfull, premeditated transgressions into mitzvas, thereby completely cleansing the soul.

All of the political and geophysical upheavals in the world today are Hashem's high-volume wake-up calls. All of our spiritual leaders say that the Geula and Moshiach are imminent. Some, like Rabbi Nir Artzi, say that Moshiach is here already. At any rate, we must polish our spiritual buttons fast. Our souls must be blemish-free, like a Marine's dress uniform, to greet Moshiach. Teshuva me'ahava is the best way to cleanse a soul and make it shine. Teshuva today is not only important - it's urgent. So-called religious people have just as much work to do as secular people do. So let's not waste any time; in the end, eveyone will do teshuva. So why wait until the ballistic missiles, hurricanes, and more earthquakes make the ground tremble under our feet? Frightened people do teshuva from fear, which is much less cherished Above than teshuva from love.

The age of Moshiach is teshuva time; there's still time for teshuva with love.

By the way, it will be really embarassing if Moshiach gets here and you're not here to greet him. Emuna Outreach put together the following clip to fuel your longing for our beloved holy Land of Emuna. We're waiting for you: