Question
What should we do if we are unable to repent?
Answer
The Midrash Pesikta on Hosea 14:2 (Ch.45, Para.9) has a parable on this subject. A king’s son was 100 days’ travel from his father. His friends said to him “Return to your father”; he said to them “I cannot”. His father sent to him and said “Go as far as your strength takes you, and I will come the rest of the way to you”. This Midrash is evidently inspired by Zechariah 1:3 and Malachi 3:7, where G-d says to the Jewish people “Return to Me and I will return to you”.