III SUNDAY OF LENT - Luke 13:1-9
In the fig tree parable, Jesus teaches that we must bear fruit; otherwise, we will be cut down like the tree that became useless. Being patient with us, God is ready to wait, giving us enough time to repent and convert. Whenever we receive God’s visit, we must present the delicious fruits of justice, mercy and love. Without them, we will be excluded from God’s field. God’s workers must take good care of all the trees in the field, digging around, watering and manuring them. They should not be blamed for them being fruitless. The servants of the Lord must proclaim the Word and call on everybody to repent and return to God.
This Sunday’s gospel begins with a warning to all of us. We are no better than others, and the punishment that fell on them may fall on us. We may think of ourselves as good and just, but in that case, we are being delusional. We are sinners in need of repentance and conversion, and we should not wait for tomorrow to do it. We must become aware of the urgency of responding to God’s call. We should not listen to God’s word in vain.
In the second reading, taken from the first letter to the Corinthians, Paul reminds his readers of what happened to the people of Israel. Despite their extraordinary experiences and the great gifts they received from God, “most of them failed to please God and their corpses littered the desert.” That is a warning to all of us. The Old Testament should be seen as a guide that takes us to Christ, calling on us to prepare the ways of the Lord and to welcome him in our hearts and lives. We should never be overconfident: “The man who thinks he is safe must be careful that he does not fall.” (1 Co 10:12).
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