Category: Sunday Reflections

Year C | 3/24/19 | Luke 13:1-9

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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.

Year C | 3/17/19 | Luke 9:28B-36

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He took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

Luke 9:28B-36 (NABRE)

Good ol’ Peter.

A couple of things really stand out to me. One, the fact that this takes place on a mountain, and two, the identities of the men who appear and discuss the exodus that Jesus will accomplish.

First, the mountain. Mountains are difficult to traverse. Even if you use a motor vehicle, you find that the roads are narrower, the turns sharper, and the conditions more hazardous than a route on flat land, even on a mild day. You think of a mountain and you think of roughness and hardship, perhaps while recollecting your own experiences with traveling up and down one. It is on a mountain that Jesus foreshadows two things at the same time: the exodus of his Passion and the glory of his Resurrection. We always hear that the Way of the Cross is the path we take to Heaven. Jesus tells us so when he says we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses daily, and follow him (Luke 9:23). Where do we follow him? Well, to Heaven, yes, but before that, to Golgotha, that place where the crucified Jesus assured the penitent, crucified criminal that he would join him in Paradise on that day (Luke 23:39-43).

Second, Moses and Elijah. The inspired Luke writes that Jesus, Moses, and Elijah talked about the “exodus” that he was about to accomplish. If you take a look at the stories of Moses and Elijah, you find that both of them went on an exodus with a time length involving the number 40. For Moses, it consisted of 40 years spent shepherding the Hebrew people from Egypt to the Promised Land. For Elijah, it consisted of a 40-day, 40-night walk to Mount Horeb, where he encounters God in a cave (1 Kings 19:8-13). Of course, Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. Later, he accomplished his other exodus in Jerusalem. There’s a recurring theme of “exodus” throughout Holy Scripture. In each exodus, there is a set destination of some kind. For us, that destination is Heaven, where we will behold God’s face for eternity and share in the joy of being united to the One who willed us into existence and surrounded us with his providential care during the course of our earthly lives. Until then, we trek in exodus, aided by the abundant help of the grace of our God.

Thank you for reading. Peace.