“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
luke 13:2-3
they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
By no means!”
Reflection
Jesus tells the crowds that people who recently died tragically were not greater sinners than anyone else, but if the current crowds do not repent, they will all die similarly. He then tells them a parable about a person who wants to cut down a fig tree that hasn’t borne fruit for three years. The gardener asks to care for it one more year, and if it doesn’t bear fruit again, then it can be cut down.
We hear about tragedies in our world all the time. Like the people in Jesus’ time, we feel lucky that such things haven’t happened to us. But Jesus warns us that if we do not repent, such tragedies can occur. We should not take our lives for granted, believing no evil things can befall us. As Jesus states, people who happen to die tragically are not automatically more guilty than we are.
We must take care to always repent of our sins and seek forgiveness. When we are truly sorry for offending God, we can begin to grow in holiness and virtue. Let us always strive to be repentant and ask Christ for the grace to avoid sin.
Saint of the Day
St. Antônio de Sant’Anna Galvão: 1739 – 1822
| “Do not fear that life has an end, fear that it has never begun.” St. Antônio |
The Healing Word 