Our gospel this third Sunday of Lent leads us to what our attitude should be in dealing with certain misfortunes and tragedies that befall other people. As people broke the news with Jesus of what Pilate did to some Galileans of putting them to death, they thought that they deserved it because they were bad people and for the tower of Siloam that collapsed and eighteen people died, they said it was an act of God. Jesus could not contain himself in the face of such ignorance and self-justification of people. And so he said: “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. (Luke 13:2-5).
In the face of a natural disaster or personal misfortune befalling other people, it is wrong to suppose that they must have done something to deserve it, which those who are free from the disaster did not do. The right disposition is to realize that it could happen to anybody, and that if it does not happen to us at this time, it is because of God’s mercy and love and not because of what we deserve.
Jesus then told the parable of the barren fig tree, which challenges them to consider what causes fruitfulness or barrenness in their lives. Fig trees were a common source of food for the Jews at that time. Bad figs were linked to evil deeds and spiritual decay. The unfruitful fig tree symbolized the outcome of Israel’s unresponsiveness to the word of God and their unfaithfulness.
This parable depicts the patience of God with us, but it also contains a warning that we should not presume upon it. God gives us time to get right with Him and to bear good fruit in our lives now. We cannot assume that there is no hurry. A sudden life-threatening illness and unexpected death can happen to us and leaves no time to prepare when each of us will stand before the Lord. Jesus is asking us to take a good look at ourselves and avail of that chance to “fertilize our tree and to see how it can be more fruitful” before it is too late.
Lent is indeed the time of the year where we can seek God’s assistance to bring us more into life. More life means allowing God’s grace to work in us and letting go of those habits and desires that does not make us better. Let us open our hearts and minds to the Lord, so we can grow in the way He wants us to be.