At that time some people who were present there told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He 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 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 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 we exhaust the soil? He 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.'”
Luke 13:1-9 (NABRE)
Sometimes the organization of Holy Scripture makes little sense at first glance. However, once you remember that the Holy Spirit is the primary author behind it all, connecting the dots between the different passages becomes less of a daunting task.
Jesus starts off with a reminder that even though awful things may happen to us in this life, we need not view them as personal indictments of tremendous sinfulness handed to us by God. Suffering is not reserved for the wicked. Sometimes even the most innocent among us suffer tremendously. Jesus Himself was treated with ghastly brutality by His torturers and executioners, yet He was sinless. Most of us have not experienced tragedies like a tower falling on us. However, we can reflect on how our experiences of suffering, whether it comes from mental illness, grief, injury, rejection, or other sources do not necessarily reflect the states of our souls. Jesus directs our attention to taking responsibility for that for which we are responsible. Repentance is key in doing so, which consists of recognizing that we have sinned, intending to refrain from committing sin again, and seeking forgiveness from God. It consists of a change of lifestyle from one that rejects Him to one that embraces Him.
Repentance is inextricably linked with bearing good fruit. In true repentance, we place God first in our hearts and accept the life-giving power of His grace. Sometimes I wonder why fruit (or agricultural yield in general) is the symbol of choice used to illustrate spiritual outcomes throughout Holy Scripture. I think one of the reasons is that land productivity levels and quality of yield can greatly help or harm individuals and societies. Barren harvest seasons lead to deadly famine and widespread poverty. Rotten fruits sicken and disgust others. So it is with the fruits we bear (or don’t bear) in our lives. Think of the fruit of the Holy Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). Bearing these in our lives not only animates us and helps us grow in holiness, but it also feeds and nourishes those around us. When was the last time you encountered kindness and walked away hurt? When has the self-control of another injured you?
We are made for goodness. God calls us to abandon sin and accept the nourishment of a life lived in love with Love Itself.
Thank you for reading. Peace.
Eat the Scroll 