Repent and Be Fruitful!

Luke 13: 1 At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did." 6 Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7 So he said to the gardener, "See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?' 8 He replied, "Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.' " (NRSV)

Our Lenten Journey started in a somber way. "You are dust and to dust you shall return," was said on Ash Wednesday. We were even told to focus on our mortality. For some this is not an easy topic. After all, we're all going to live here forever, or so we wish. On this day, Jesus is reminded by some present with Him about a terrible event in their history, that some Galileans, obviously not as righteous as those bringing it up to Jesus, or so they hoped, had been murdered by Pilate possibly in the same area as where blood sacrifices were offered to God. Surely to die in such a way implied they were bad and deserved it. Jesus replied, "Do you think that because they died in this way they were worse than all Galileans? He answers His own question by saying, "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did." Gulp. Wait. Perish? Me? "Focus on my mortality?" "I really AM dust and to dust I shall return?" The emphasis was on repentance.

Jesus continued with more news about death; eighteen in Jerusalem died when a huge tower fell on them, were they worse than all who live in Jerusalem? Jesus then repeats with the answer and the warning; "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did." There's that emphasis again, the way out, if you please, from this perishing business. Repentance. The turning away from our sin with a truly convicted and hurting heart about the sin we have committed, and turning toward God, the only One who can forgive our sins. A change of heart as the sheep in Angusday's comic above. Lent is about turning away from sin and turning to God. You gave up something and replaced it with a spiritual practice of some sort in order to focus on God and God's love and grace. Is that enough?

The lesson continues about fruitfulness. A fruit tree serves its purpose better when it produces fruit and not just shade. And in Jesus' time a fig tree was just the thing to provide delicious and nourishing figs. A sad image from the movie "Zero Dark Thirty" shows a very hungry Middle Eastern man after torture being offered something to drink and a small bag of something to eat that contained figs. The way that man ate the figs showed how special they are even today as a source of food. And a fig tree that produces nothing but dead leaves or shade serves no purpose. Jesus' implication is the same about believers who never produce fruit in their faith. It is Jesus saying what good does it do to repent, receive God's mercy, and then do nothing about it? Tell somebody! Share with somebody that news that the sentence of death has been lifted from your life and you're free to live! That too, is part of this Lenten Journey.

PRAYER: Loving God, for the sentence of death removed from me, I am grateful. I am thankful also for the gift of being able to turn to You and receive from You that which allows me to be blessed with new life. May the fruit of my repentance be that which grows the Kingdom. This I ask in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde