MY daily reflection and prayer:
Sunday, February 28, 2016
The Third Sunday of Lent
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Luke 13:1-9
There were some present at that very time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, `Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, `Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
LET’S focus on the first reading and the Gospel today. There is the same theme in both of them especially about God’s care of each of us.
In the first reading we encounter God who came close to Moses, and drew Moses close to him. This was Moses’ experience at the burning bush. There God said to Moses, that he has observed the misery of his people. He has heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. “Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them …” says the Lord of God.
Here we experience how God cares of us, his people. He knows our suffering and so he has come down to deliver us. He wants us to be close to him. God is so close, because he cares.
In the Gospel we encounter God who cares in Jesus Christ. Jesus gives us the parable about the fig tree which is let lived and is never cut down although has no fruit. Thanks to the gardener in the parable, the fig lives and is not cut down.
In my mind, Jesus Christ is the Good Gardener who steps in and asks the owner, the Heavenly Father, “Let it alone!” He is the Good Gardener who presents the face of God’s mercy. He will take care of things. He is the one who cultivates the soil around our hearts, as the gardener tends the fig tree in the parable.
Even, he himself is cut down in a bloody way and crucified. It is extraordinary grace that we who indeed should justly be cut down are saved, while the axe is put to the trunk of His body in his cross. All for love of us!
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist, we worship Jesus Christ who is cut and broken in the Eucharist. He is the Son of God who has heard the cry of his suffering people.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ you want our lives to bear the fruit of peace and happiness. Time and time again you have been patient with us and received us back into your embrace when we have strayed from you. Thank you for your kindness, Lord. As you have always be patient to each one of us, may we be also as patient with others as you are with us now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
