Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 13, 1-9
Some people told Jesus about the Galileans
whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!
Or those eighteen people who were killed
when the tower at Siloam fell on them—
do you think they were more guilty
than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!”
And he told them this parable:
“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,
and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,
he said to the gardener,
‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree
but have found none.
So cut it down.
Why should it exhaust the soil?’
He said to him in reply,
‘Sir, leave it for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;
it may bear fruit in the future.
If not you can cut it down.’”
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Sacrifices
1. Greater sinners. In the Christian world we tend to measure who is more or less sinful than others. We even test those who belong to the Church to see who is less sinful in order to give them a task or a responsibility; something totally different from what Jesus used to do. If the selection of the apostles were done today, in our style, none of the twelve that Jesus called could be chosen through the test that we use today. The entrance tests that we members of the Church use today are quite the opposite of Jesus’s way of choosing. Because Jesus looked at the person more than at sin, but today, you and I look at a person’s sins first. No one is more sinful than anyone else and less holy than anyone else; each person goes through life the way they can and faces situations as they can. The key is to know our limitations and to know how to face our weaknesses as well as the greatness that allows us to help others.
2. Conversion. In our path, you and I have to change because life is dynamic, and we can’t just say that we are like this and that’s it. There are things that you have to change, there are certain aspects of your life that are no longer valid and have expired. Some of your attitudes have already become damaged or corrupted and yet, it seems that you have to reach the limit to say, “you are right, I have to change”. You can’t always fall into the trap of making everyone conform to you. You must fight to be a better person and always do your best, and that implies change.
3. Time. Time on earth is not eternal. Everything has a limit and time runs out. Therefore, my friend, look at your life and see which things should be left behind and which things should be retained. Because time reminds you that the things in your life cannot be left half done.
Never forget that something good is on the way!
God bless you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
