Saturday, October 26, 2002
29th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Eph 4:7-16
Gospel: Lk 13:1-9
Some persons told Jesus what had occurred in the Temple: Pilate had Galileans killed and their blood mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus replied, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this? I tell you: no. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did.
And those eighteen persons in Siloah who were crushed when the tower fell, do you think they were more guilty than all the others in Jerusalem? I tell you: no. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did."
And Jesus continued with this story, "A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard and he came looking for fruit on it, but found none. Then he said to the gardener: 'Look here, for three years now I have been looking for figs on this tree and I have found none. Cut it down, why should it use up the ground?' The gardener replied: 'Leave it one more year, so that I may dig around it and add some fertilizer; and perhaps it will bear fruit from now on. But if it doesn't, you can cut it down."
Commentary
God's plan for every Christian, is to bring forth fruits for the Kingdom. God makes available to us all that is needed for our growth and fruitfulness. However, through our own weaknesses and negligence, we may fail to make use of the opportunities given to us. Then, like the unfruitful fig tree in the gospel, we justly deserve to be cut down and thrown away. But, in his infinite mercy, Jesus, the Divine Gardener, gives us more chances for growth and fruitfulness. He puts at our disposal the wealth of the sacraments, the inspiration of His Word, and the support of fellow Christians to enable us to bear fruit.