We are pilgrims

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (13, 1-9)

At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 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? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”

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. 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?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

 

 During the time of Lent we are moving as if on a pilgrimage. A pilgrim leaves his home, leaves his normal lifestyle and goes towards a holy place. On Ash Wednesday, in a spirit of repentance, we left the usual style of our daily living and are progressing, in prayer and penance, towards a very holy day, Good Friday. But our hearts are filled with a joyful expectation for Easter. For us Easter is a holy place, or the Holiest of Times that fills us with hope for a better life in this world and for eternity.

We are almost in the middle of our Lenten journey. We fasted. Some of us dedicate more time to prayer. Others went to confess their sins. I believe that we are well on the way towards Easter. I hope that all of us still remember the words that the priest said on Ash Wednesday when he placed ashes on our head. He said: "Repent, and believe in the Gospel".

The church repeats the same message to us in today's liturgy. "Repent", she tells us. We are aware that we are all sinners! However, I believe that we are not corrupt, for we feel the need for God's mercy. The Church continues: "Believe in the Gospel". Jesus is the true gospel, "the Good News" that the Father sends us every day. At the moment of the transfiguration of Jesus from the cloud came a voice, the Father’s voice, that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" Our Faith in Jesus leads us to seek help from God and to accept it. Beware, it is very easy for us to ask for help from someone and we do not accept it because we are afraid, or because it is not what we expected.

We have to work hard every day to become disciples of Jesus and children of our Father in heaven.

Today's Gospel tells us that if we do not turn from our sins towards God, we will all die! Jesus was talking about some Galileans whom Pilate had killed in the temple and about those upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, killing them. Jesus said that these persons were not the greatest sinners of all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Crimes and disasters are not normally punishments imposed by God on the victims because of their sins. People, at the time of Jesus, thought that these victims were worse sinners than all the others, and that God was punishing them. Unfortunately, many still cultivate this belief.

Jesus teaches us that we must not judge one another. He says: “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get" (Mt 7: 1-2). This is the first step on our effort to return to God. God alone is the Judge. The apostle James teaches us: "There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbour? (James 4, 12).

The second step in our effort to return to God is that we should bear fruit. In today's gospel Jesus tells us the parable of the fig tree that did not bear fruit. The owner for three years came looking for fruit from the fig tree, and found none. So he said to the gardener: ‘See here! Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?" In fact, why should a fig tree occupy land if it is fruitless? Jesus teaches us that "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire". (Mt 7, 19) He continues, "You will know them by their fruits". In fact, we will know that we are good Christians if we give good fruit. Jesus teaches us: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven" (Mt 7, 21). A few hours before his suffering and death, Jesus told his disciples: "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love" (Jn 15: 8-9).

Therefore, we need to be careful in the way we live our Christian life. We cannot live like pagans and, at the same time, call ourselves Christians. Otherwise we would be living a big lie. John the Apostle teaches us: "Whoever says, “I have come to know him (God)”, but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist" (1 Jn 2, 4). Only if we live in truth can we take part in the salvation that Christ offers us daily.

Finally, it is very important that we accept the advice the apostle John gave us: "Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action!" (1 Jn 3, 18) Let us remember the prayer of Jesus during the Last Supper: "Father! ... Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth ... I ask not only for these (apostles) but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word (all of us!) that they may all be one … Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory". (Jn 17, 17. 20. 24). This is Jesus' last wish before his passion and death on the cross.

Lord, help us to make this wish come true!