Vol.5 No.25 DoM Gospel Reflection
Luke 13: 1-9
3rd Sunday of Lent—February 28, 2016
By Mary Galla
We get reports of tragedies in the news constantly. A train crash in Germany, terror attacks in Turkey, flooding, earthquakes…if it bleeds, it leads, as they say. And we ask the same questions now about why bad things happen that Jesus’ audience probably asked. Conventional wisdom back then held that blessings and success came to good people, and tragedy and misfortune were a punishment or warning from God. Isn’t there a part of all of us that sometimes WANTS God to mete out justice? To smite our enemies?
Jesus begins to explain that all are in danger of perishing unless they repent. He doesn’t mean that those who fail to repent face a higher probability of being murdered by an evil tyrant, or that God will strike them down with a bolt of lightning from the sky. Jesus tells a story to try to help them see the true nature of God.
A landowner had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. It had not produced fruit in three years. Fig trees produce figs. It’s what they are supposed to do. This tree, however, was failing miserably at its task. The tree was taking up valuable space, using up precious nutrients, and contributing nothing to the vineyard or the landowner’s table. The landowner is fed up and demands that the tree be chopped down. At least it might be useful as firewood! The gardener intervenes and asks for one more year to try to get the tree to produce fruit
If we see God the Father as the landowner in this story, though, we’re missing the message completely. We’re inclined to see a God who will punish us for not doing what we are supposed to do, who will come after us with an ax if we mess up. We see an angry, impatient God who says “you had your chance, you failed, too bad.” We put Jesus in the role of the merciful, patient gardener, stepping in to shield us from the fire and brimstone of the Father.
What we fail to realize is that God is not the landowner. The landowner is the world, the culture that says you have no value unless you produce more than you use. The culture that says you have to follow its rules, have more, make a profit, be fit. And if you don’t conform to the wisdom of the world, you aren’t good for much. The wisdom of the world places no value on suffering or pain or trying and failing. If tragedy strikes, it wants to explain it, and then either fix it or sue someone.
God is the gardener who says not only am I not going to cut you down for firewood, I’m going to get down with you in the dirt and manure and be there for you through the barren stretches. God wants to keep giving you graces and loving you as He joins in your worthlessness and loneliness and He will be there suffering with you.”
In the first reading on Sunday from Exodus, God calls out to Moses and says to him, “I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers, so I know well what they are suffering. Therefore, I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Ex 3:7-8a)
* * * * *
This year’s focus on the mercy of God is much-needed consolation for those of us who feel like we’re struggling daily against temptation and sin without, apparently, much to show for our efforts. Do you feel that no matter how hard you try, you never get better at praying? That you aren’t growing closer to God? That you’re committing the same sins, over and over again? That you don’t seem to be getting any less selfish?
Take heart, my beautiful sisters! Even as we struggle with these things, day after day and week after week; even as we keep trying to pray, to help others without grumbling; to keep that commandment that just seems so hard for us, God is growing grace and love in us. All there is for us to do is continue to desire to do better. Grace will take care of the rest.
* * * * *
One final, somewhat sobering thought, since it IS lent: St. Paul gives a very clear and stern warning in Sunday’s second reading, saying, “…whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.” Our God is a God of love and mercy, but we should presume upon His infinite generosity. God gives us so many chances to get it right with Him, but we shouldn’t assume we can do it on our timeline. “…For you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25:13)
_________________
Henson, D. R. (2013, February 28). God is a Gardener: A Homily for Lent 3C (Luke 13:1-9). Retrieved February 19, 2016, from http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davidhenson/2013/02/god-is-a-gardener-a-homily-for-lent-3c-luke-131-9/
Schwager, D. (1999). The Gospel of Luke: A commentary & meditation: Suffering and Sin. Retrieved February 19, 2016, from http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/luke131.htm
Vann, G., O. P. (2015, October 1). Meditation of the Day (Wednesday, February 17, 2016): “They Repented” (P. J. Cameron O. P., Ed.). Magnificat, 2016(Feb), 264-265.
Author Info
