3rd Sunday of Lent (C)

Ex 3:1-8, 13-15; 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12; Lk 13:1-9

During Jesus’ time it was quite common for people to consider misfortune as God’s punishment for bad people. Even today, many of us would think in the same way. In fact, whenever a serious accident or a terminal sickness befalls us, we would immediately ask: “What have I’ve done to deserve this?”, “Why me?”, or “Where did I fall short?” The tendency is to search for the punishable wrongdoing.

In today's gospel, Jesus tries to address the mistaken idea that every suffering is 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 did not mean that they were more sinful than others. Bad things could happen to good and bad people alike. 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 all 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 own share of suffering. Jesus himself, innocent and free of any stain of sin, had experienced the most painful suffering and death. And so, while the Bible recognizes the fact that many sufferings have resulted from evil actions of humanity or sin in the world, it is not saying that all sufferings are a punishment for sin.

Instead of portraying God as a strong punisher, Jesus brought an image of a patient and merciful Lord. Rather than condemning tax collectors, prostitutes, shepherds, lepers and others, Jesus invited them to repentance and discipleship.

Bible commentators suggest that the parable of the fig tree is a brief story about God’s mercy. The landowner already waited patiently 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 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. In gratitude we should give our best efforts 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 Jesus, 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)