Ex 3:1-8, 13-15; Ps 102; 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12; Lk 13:1-9
It was quite usual for people during Jesus’ time to consider misfortune as God’s punishment for bad people and blessings as God’s reward for righteous individuals. For this mentality, the fact that our business went bankrupt, that our loved one died in a car accident, that our child had a handicap, or that our marriage broke up, was a sign that God was not happy with us because of our evil deeds. Today, many of us would think the same way. In fact, whenever a serious accident or a terminal sickness befalls us, we immediately ask: “What have I’ve done to deserve this?”, “Why me?”, or “Where did I fall short?” The common tendency is to search for the punishable fault.
In the gospel, Jesus tries to address the mistaken idea that all sufferings are a divine castigation for sin. He cites two well-known sad incidents, namely, the “massacre in the temple” (wherein a group of Galileans who strongly opposed the Roman occupiers were brutally killed upon the order of Pilate) and the “Siloam tower tragedy” (an accident that led to the demise of 18 people). Jesus explains that the death of the victims does not mean that they are more sinful than others. Bad things may happen to good and bad people alike. In the first place, the power of darkness would cause harm to anybody regardless of the victim’s moral character. Moreover, calamities are usually the result of blind forces of nature which could hit people indiscriminately.
To consider personal suffering as God’s punishment for an evildoer runs contrary to the entire message of the Bible. What happened to Job clearly showed that an innocent man has his share of suffering. Job was a pious man and he was not deserving of punishment from a just God. This truth is made definitely clear when Jesus himself, innocent and free of any stain of sin, experienced the most painful suffering and death. The Bible recognizes the fact that many sufferings have resulted from evil actions of humanity or sin in the world, but it is not saying that all sufferings are a punishment for sin. As Edward Schillebeeckx said, “It is possible to draw conclusions from sin to suffering, but not from suffering to sin.” Indeed, we do not need to go far in order to see the suffering of so many innocent people in the world.
Instead of portraying God as a strong punisher, Jesus brings an image of a patient and merciful Lord. This is particularly manifested in the way he relates with people considered in his time as dirty or sinners. Rather than condemning tax collectors, prostitutes, shepherds, lepers and others, the Lord invites them to repentance and discipleship.
Bible commentators would agree that the parable of the fig tree is a brief story about God’s mercy. The landowner already waited patiently (imagine three years!) for the fig tree to produce fruit. Since the fig tree normally bears fruit ten months of the year, any landowner would reasonably expect to see fruit at almost every time. Given such case, who would blame the landowner if he decides to cut down a tree which remains fruitless for many years? Imagine the kind of patience this landowner has when he agrees with the suggestion of a gardener to give the tree one more year. Consider also the dedication of the gardener who volunteers to cultivate deeply and manure the land in order to provide the tree the best chance to bear fruit.
In the parable we can easily imagine God as the landowner, Jesus as the gardener, and we as fig trees. God is saddened when we remain fruitless, when we fail to produce good works or fail to extend love to others. By our sinfulness or selfishness, we deserve to be condemned. But Jesus, who is the embodiment of God’s compassion, intercedes to the Father to give us second chances or more time to repent.
The season of Lent moves us to be grateful for the immensity of God’s mercy. Let us also thank Jesus who continues to mediate and intercede for us before God. He is the Great Gardener who cultivates in us genuine love for God and neighbor. In the concrete, Jesus develops our Christian life through our parents, catechists, teachers, spiritual directors, counselors, friends and others. They serve as gardeners after the model of Jesus and they help us move from infertility to fruitfulness. Our deep gratitude to them should inspire us to leave our sinful ways so that we can start bearing fruit that would benefit others. Let us not remain in our wrongdoings and fruitlessness because even the Gardener himself acknowledges that the time will come when the unproductive tree will be cut down.
A minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas just before a long holiday weekend. The attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars ahead of him in front of the service station. Finally, the attendant motioned him toward a vacant pump.
“Reverend,” said the young man, “sorry about the delay. It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip.”
The minister chuckled, “I know what you mean. It's the same in my business.”
It was quite usual for people during Jesus’ time to consider misfortune as God’s punishment for bad people and blessings as God’s reward for righteous individuals. For this mentality, the fact that our business went bankrupt, that our loved one died in a car accident, that our child had a handicap, or that our marriage broke up, was a sign that God was not happy with us because of our evil deeds. Today, many of us would think the same way. In fact, whenever a serious accident or a terminal sickness befalls us, we immediately ask: “What have I’ve done to deserve this?”, “Why me?”, or “Where did I fall short?” The common tendency is to search for the punishable fault.
In the gospel, Jesus tries to address the mistaken idea that all sufferings are a divine castigation for sin. He cites two well-known sad incidents, namely, the “massacre in the temple” (wherein a group of Galileans who strongly opposed the Roman occupiers were brutally killed upon the order of Pilate) and the “Siloam tower tragedy” (an accident that led to the demise of 18 people). Jesus explains that the death of the victims does not mean that they are more sinful than others. Bad things may happen to good and bad people alike. In the first place, the power of darkness would cause harm to anybody regardless of the victim’s moral character. Moreover, calamities are usually the result of blind forces of nature which could hit people indiscriminately.
To consider personal suffering as God’s punishment for an evildoer runs contrary to the entire message of the Bible. What happened to Job clearly showed that an innocent man has his share of suffering. Job was a pious man and he was not deserving of punishment from a just God. This truth is made definitely clear when Jesus himself, innocent and free of any stain of sin, experienced the most painful suffering and death. The Bible recognizes the fact that many sufferings have resulted from evil actions of humanity or sin in the world, but it is not saying that all sufferings are a punishment for sin. As Edward Schillebeeckx said, “It is possible to draw conclusions from sin to suffering, but not from suffering to sin.” Indeed, we do not need to go far in order to see the suffering of so many innocent people in the world.
Instead of portraying God as a strong punisher, Jesus brings an image of a patient and merciful Lord. This is particularly manifested in the way he relates with people considered in his time as dirty or sinners. Rather than condemning tax collectors, prostitutes, shepherds, lepers and others, the Lord invites them to repentance and discipleship.
Bible commentators would agree that the parable of the fig tree is a brief story about God’s mercy. The landowner already waited patiently (imagine three years!) for the fig tree to produce fruit. Since the fig tree normally bears fruit ten months of the year, any landowner would reasonably expect to see fruit at almost every time. Given such case, who would blame the landowner if he decides to cut down a tree which remains fruitless for many years? Imagine the kind of patience this landowner has when he agrees with the suggestion of a gardener to give the tree one more year. Consider also the dedication of the gardener who volunteers to cultivate deeply and manure the land in order to provide the tree the best chance to bear fruit.
In the parable we can easily imagine God as the landowner, Jesus as the gardener, and we as fig trees. God is saddened when we remain fruitless, when we fail to produce good works or fail to extend love to others. By our sinfulness or selfishness, we deserve to be condemned. But Jesus, who is the embodiment of God’s compassion, intercedes to the Father to give us second chances or more time to repent.
The season of Lent moves us to be grateful for the immensity of God’s mercy. Let us also thank Jesus who continues to mediate and intercede for us before God. He is the Great Gardener who cultivates in us genuine love for God and neighbor. In the concrete, Jesus develops our Christian life through our parents, catechists, teachers, spiritual directors, counselors, friends and others. They serve as gardeners after the model of Jesus and they help us move from infertility to fruitfulness. Our deep gratitude to them should inspire us to leave our sinful ways so that we can start bearing fruit that would benefit others. Let us not remain in our wrongdoings and fruitlessness because even the Gardener himself acknowledges that the time will come when the unproductive tree will be cut down.
A minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas just before a long holiday weekend. The attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars ahead of him in front of the service station. Finally, the attendant motioned him toward a vacant pump.
“Reverend,” said the young man, “sorry about the delay. It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip.”
The minister chuckled, “I know what you mean. It's the same in my business.”
(The story is from an unknown author)
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