I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it
Published Oct 22, 2022 12:05 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
Today’s Gospel speaks of Jesus’ call to repentance and of the parable of the Barren Fig Tree.
Jesus points out that the Galileans and the Jerusalemites who died tragically are not worse sinners than those listening to Jesus. The manner of death is not important. The point is whether one dies in sin or in grace. The Lord does not want anyone to die in sin. He provides the occasions for us to repent.
Like in the parable of the Barren Fig Tree, the Lord does not want us to immediately be cut off from having the chance of bearing fruit. He always hopes that we “may make fruit” (poiēsē karpon). This implies that while the Lord provides the occasions for us to bear fruit, we also have to do our own part.
Do we realize how much God loves us that he does not want us to live and die in sin? Do we acknowledge our need to repent? Do we want to bear fruit?
Gospel • Lk 13:1-9
Some people told Jesus 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 all perish as they did! Or those 18 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?’ 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.’”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
Today’s Gospel speaks of Jesus’ call to repentance and of the parable of the Barren Fig Tree.
Jesus points out that the Galileans and the Jerusalemites who died tragically are not worse sinners than those listening to Jesus. The manner of death is not important. The point is whether one dies in sin or in grace. The Lord does not want anyone to die in sin. He provides the occasions for us to repent.
Like in the parable of the Barren Fig Tree, the Lord does not want us to immediately be cut off from having the chance of bearing fruit. He always hopes that we “may make fruit” (poiēsē karpon). This implies that while the Lord provides the occasions for us to bear fruit, we also have to do our own part.
Do we realize how much God loves us that he does not want us to live and die in sin? Do we acknowledge our need to repent? Do we want to bear fruit?
Gospel • Lk 13:1-9
Some people told Jesus 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 all perish as they did! Or those 18 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?’ 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.’”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.