Time to repent… and the time is now

Listening to the Spirit

“Repent and believe in the Good News” these were the words uttered by the priest during the distribution of the ashes last Ash Wednesday. In the gospel today, Jesus said twice this statement “If you do not REPENT, you will all perish”. This statement is an exhortation and a caveat. For Jesus, all of us are sinners that need repentance and there is still a time to repent like the parable of the Fig tree.

PRAYER:

Father of mercy and goodness,
You reveal to us your patient mercy,
by offering us the ultimate chance,
Jesus Christ, your beloved Son.
He suffered for us and irrigated our barren hearts
with the blood of his sacrifice
that we may bring forth a rich harvest.
Do not let us suffer the fate of the unfruitful fig tree,
destined for ultimate destruction.
In our Lenten journey to the Easter glory,
help us to be responsive to the “amazing grace”
won for us by Jesus,
the compassionate gardener of our souls.
He lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen

(Anonymous)

Listening to the Word

Luke 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ The gardener said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it. It may bear fruit in the future. If not, you can cut it down.’”

Reflection

When I was in Sierra Leone during the pandemic Ebola virus, not a few considered it as the wrath of God. After Sierra Leone was declared Ebola-free another tragic event happened. There was a strong mudslide that covered almost one village. Again, this tragic event was associated with God’s punishment. Like in the gospel today, people associated the victims of the destructive disasters as sinners. But Jesus was very clear that all of us are sinners and needs repentance.

Now is the time to change. Lent is an opportune time for us to reconcile to Him and bear fruit. Now is the time not to tolerate ourselves from sinful habits. The parable of the Fig tree reminds us of the image of a God that is patient with us and giving chances. But even God sets a time or a limit. Either we grow or we die. Hoping when the “landowner” comes he will see us bearing fruit or else he will cut us down.

I and you are the “fig trees”. We are given chances to bear fruit by Jesus. I can mention a long list of names that were given chances by Jesus and became great followers of Jesus. Needless to say the names of Peter and Paul. Both fell but stood up again. I remember one youth in our chapel. He was a famous robber in the place. One evening he and his companions decided to go to the city to rob a bus. On their way, he met one leader of the youth ministry and asked him to join the meeting in the chapel. He joined the meeting and his two companions continued their plan. The next day, the two robbers were wounded and put in the prison. This young man is a renewed man. He loves to read and pray the Bible.

The landowner expects more from the fig tree. This season of Lent, Jesus is expecting more from us. May we put MORE quality in our prayer life; we put MORE love in our almsgiving; we put MORE intentions in our fasting. Like the fig tree, we need to bear fruit in a specific time. And this is the moment; this is the time to repent.