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If we are not careful it is easy to
slip into a state of fear. Daily we hear news reports
of people being injured and even killed. What is
particularly disheartening is when people are simply
doing what they do every day. They go to work and then
some random tragedy occurs. As people of faith we place
our trust in God and can live in confidence. We can
never escape from God’s love for us. On this Third
Sunday in Lent we continue moving from fear to love.
God never stops loving us.
Jesus demonstrated time and again
that God loves all people. God does not withhold divine
love. At those times when we have done wrong—God still
loves us. Knowing that we are loved changes not only
the way we relate to each other but how we view the
world.
Jesus was on his way to a final
showdown of sorts in Jerusalem. Jesus knew what would
happen to him that he would suffer and die. But he also
knew that would not be the end because God would raise
him to new life. No one would take Jesus’ life instead
he would freely give it for the sins of the world.
Nothing would derail Jesus from following God’s will.
On his way to the cross Jesus
stopped in his hometown to talk with people he knew. In
hectic stressful times it is good to spend time with
people you know and who also care about you. His
friends had news of a recent tragedy. Some Galileans
went to Jerusalem to offer their sacrifices at the
temple. It was both a responsibility and privilege to
go to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices. It was while they
were offering their sacrifices that the unthinkable
happened. Pilate sent guards who killed the pilgrims.
It was a horrible tragedy.
There have been news reports the
last several years of violent acts taking place in
churches in different parts of our country. When we
hear of such accounts our first response is one of
disbelief. Who would do such a thing? Or worst, what
has happened to our country that people could shoot
innocent people during a worship service. It is
unsettling.
People in Jesus’ day had a
different question. Instead of asking how such a
tragedy could happen they wanted to know if those killed
were worst sinners than other people. When bad things
happened to people the first thought was always that
they must have done something terrible to offend God and
now God was punishing them. In other words, they got
what they deserved. Even today we sometimes hear people
saying that God must be punishing them for some offense
when bad things begin happening to them. They got what
they deserved.
Not true! Jesus answers their
question with a loud and clear, “No.” God does not
cause terrible things to happen to people. God is not
the source of tragedy. I believe that when tragedy
occurs it breaks God’s heart as well. Those killed in
the temple did not deserve their fate, they were not
being punished, but were victims of random violence.
Like prophets of old Jesus seized
the moment, “unless you repent, you will all perish as
they did.” Repent; change your ways, before it is too
late. The Apostle Paul reminds us that all people have
sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Therefore
all of us need to repent. There was a sense of urgency
in Jesus’ words, repent while you still have time,
before it is too late.
Jesus told of another recent random
tragedy. Eighteen people were killed when a tower fell
on them. God was not the source of the tragedy. Again
it was not as though God was punishing them for some
grave offense. These people just happened to be at the
wrong place at the wrong time. Jesus again echoed the
need to repent, to change your ways before it is too
late. If we do not repent, the day will come when it
will be too late for us.
It is out of God’s love for us that
we are given more time. Our God is the God of second,
third, and as many chances as we need. No matter what
we’ve done in the past when we seek divine forgiveness
and vow to turn our lives around we are forgiven. To
drive home his point Jesus told a parable about a person
who planted a fig tree.
Fruit was expected from the fig
tree. The vineyard owner expected to find fruit “but
found none.” For three years the vineyard owner found
no fruit on this particular tree. He was quickly losing
patience with the tree; space was at a premium. How
long are you willing to wait for fruit? The vineyard
owner ordered the tree to be chopped down and a new one
planted. He had waited long enough—three years. If
this tree will not produce then cut it down and plant
another tree with the hope that it will produce fruit in
season. It made perfectly good sense, good business
sense.
The gardener pleaded with the
vineyard owner asking for more time. With a little
tender loving care he was certain that the tree would
produce fruit. “Let it alone for one more year,” the
gardener said, “until I dig around it and put manure on
it.” The gardener would make the extra effort and would
do all he could so that the tree would produce. By that
time next year if the tree still did not produce then
“you can cut it down.” Give it one more year and see
what will happen but also in the meantime do all you can
to help.
Back in 1993 the Phillies were
having their first winning season in a decade. They
recognized a weakness with their short-stop who made too
many errors that were costing them games. In the
beginning of July, Kevin Stocker was called up. He was
told that all he had to do was catch the ball and not
worry about anything else. His first game he went
hit-less. The next day two coaches took him aside and
began working with him in the batting cage to help him
become a better hitter. He would come to the ball park
early for extra practice. As a result of the extra help
Kevin Stocker became an average major league hitter, and
the Phillies went on to win the National League Pennant
and play in the World Series.
Who might we coach or mentor in the
faith? Who do we need to spend more time and effort
with? New Christians need guidance and wisdom from more
mature believers. We need to do all we can to encourage
others in the faith. The Parable of the fig tree
teaches us that we have more time and with additional
time we need to redouble our efforts with the goal of
producing fruit.
We like to think of Jesus as our
friend and that is all right. But the day will come
when Jesus will be our judge. I leave you with one
question for your further reflection, “Will Jesus be
pleased with the fruit you have produced in your life?”
If not then now is the time to redouble your efforts.
Lent is the time to seriously examine our lives and make
the necessary changes—with the goal of producing fruit
for the glory of God.
May our faith be strengthened as we
partake of the bread and juice as we strive to be more
like Jesus.
Amen.
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