Be fruitful

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

(Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15; Psalm 103; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12)
LUKE 13:1-9

PART I

In Jesus' time, suffering was seen as a sign of punishment for sin. Those who hoped for a triumphant Messiah that would reestablish Israel in power found his teaching on the cross difficult to accept.

Jesus pointed out recent disasters that people believed to be the consequence of sin. Jesus referred to two types of calamities one political and one natural. In one incident, Pontius Pilate's men killed some Jewish Galileans in cold-blood while they were offering sacrifice in the Jerusalem Temple at Passover. In another case, several construction workers were accidentally killed when a water tower fell on them. These individuals did not die because of their own sins. Although they were innocent of wrongdoing, they nonetheless suffered the reality of evil in the world. We must not look to the sinfulness of others but to our own need for repentance. Without faith, these calamities would be seen as terrible tragedies, but with faith, all events in a person's life, whether good or bad, could be sanctifying and redemptive.

In other words, the important thing is not what happens to us but how we react to it. Some people react in a negative way to the hardships of life and they become bitter. Others react in a negative way to the hardships of life and they become bitter. Others react in a positive, trusting way, and they become better. Do I view the trials in my life as tragedies or opportunities for growth? The choice of what we become is really ours: bitter or better?


Part II

Jesus told a people a parable about a fruitless fig tree planted in the vineyard (the fruitless tree was a symbol of barren Israel, Jer 8:13; Isaiah told a similar parable about a fruitless vineyard, Is 5:1-7). The parable of the owner of the vineyard tells of God’s infinite patience in dealing with the sinfulness of humans. Despite our failings, God will graciously allow us time to produce our best fruit. In what areas is God allowing us time to change..


Lent is a time when we think particularly about how we can do thing ‘to bear more fruit’ and what is this fruit…? We think of the fruits of the Holy Spirit..love, joy, peace, patient, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control.
While God was merciful and patient in waiting for it to bear, time was running out. Each and everyone of us is gifted with different things, but with equal responsibility of sharing these gifts.

Let us not lose our courage and confidence…
Jesus, gentle gardener,we are like your barren fig tree.We bear no fruit, we bore no fruit for you.Please nurture us.Feed our branches with your life-giving Eucharist.Pour living water over us one more time.Drench us with grace.As a tree we grow toward the sun.Turn our selves toward you.Always in the turning is the promiseof growth.