3rd Sunday of Lent

23/3/2025

We begin our reflection today with Jesus sharing stories about challenging events - Pilate's brutal killing of Galileans during their worship, and eighteen souls lost when the tower of Siloam collapsed. He then offers us the story of a fig tree that is given a second chance to flourish. Though these stories might seem unconnected, they help us respond to key questions: Why do difficult things happen, and how can we find meaning in them?

When hardship enters our lives - whether through violence, accident, or illness - our hearts naturally search for answers. In Jesus' time, many believed suffering was a divine punishment, with greater suffering indicating greater sin.

Jesus, in his compassion and wisdom, completely upends this thinking: "Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no!"

What liberating good news! In a world quick to assign blame, Jesus offers the freedom of grace. When disasters strike, some voices still whisper about judgment, but Jesus shows us a more loving path - one where suffering isn't God's punishment but rather an invitation to deeper connection with him.

When Jesus says, "Unless you repent, you too will all perish," he's not threatening us but inviting us into a fuller life. He gently reminds us that our days are precious gifts. The question transforms from "Why did they die?" to the life-giving "How can I truly live?"

This brings us to the hopeful parable of the fig tree. For three years, it hasn't produced fruit, and the owner considers removing it. But notice the gardener's response - not condemnation but compassion: "Sir, leave it alone for one more year. I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, wonderful! If not, then you can cut it down."

What a beautiful image of God's relationship with us! While Jesus affirms that how we live matters deeply, he reveals a God of second chances, a divine gardener who cares about not just what we are but what we could become. The gardener doesn't just give more time but promises nurturing attention - digging around our roots and enriching the soil of our lives.

In our busy world filled with distractions, this Gospel invites us to embrace what truly brings joy:

First: do not judge others who suffer. When tragedies happen, let's respond not with theories about what they "deserved" but with compassion that mirrors God's own heart.

Second: embrace self-reflection with hope, not fear. "Am I growing in love? Am I bearing fruit that nourishes others?" These questions aren't meant to discourage but to invite us into a more fulfilled life.

Third: celebrate each new day as a gift of possibility. Like the fig tree receiving another season, every morning brings fresh opportunities to love more deeply.

Finally: welcome nurturing. The gardener's promise to tend the tree reminds us that growth often comes through accepting help, embracing change, and allowing ourselves to be cared for by God and others.

This Lenten season, Jesus doesn't use death to frighten us but to awaken us to the richness of life. While we cannot control life's uncertainties, we can choose to live each day with awareness, purpose, and openness to growth.

The real question isn't whether challenges will come, but whether we'll be bearing the fruit of love when they do. And the good news is this: the divine Gardener is always at work, nurturing us toward that beautiful possibility.

by Fr. Thomas O'BRIEN a.a