Sunday Homilies by Fr. Rudolf V. D’ Souza

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Third Sunday of Lent – 2007

Date: March 11, 2007
Year: C
The readings:
[Ex. 3:1-8, 13-5; 1 Cor. 10:1-6, 10-2; Lk. 13:1-9]

"Jesus was teaching the crowds; some of those present old Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

Jesus asked them, 'Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them - do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.'

Then Jesus told this parable: 'A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?'

The gardener replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" [Lk. 13:1-9]

The message: Do you think they were worse sinners?

During today's First Reading from the Book of Exodus, we heard that God observed the misery of His people. He heard their cries on account of their taskmasters. [Ex. 3:7] And so He went to deliver them from the Egyptians. [Ex. 3:8]

During the Second Reading that provided us with more information about God's people, we learn that God did free His people from slavery. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food. They all drank the same spiritual drink. They thought they were God's people, but he was not pleased with most of them. And He struck them down in the wilderness. [1 Cor. 10:2-5]

Why did God strike them down? These things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. [1 Cor. 10:6] And we should not complain about this righteousness of God. Those who complained in the days of Moses, they were destroyed by the Destroyer. [1 Cor. 10:10]

As St. Paul said, these things happened to serve as an example. And they were written down to instruct us. So, if we think we are standing, we better watch out that we do not fall. [1 Cor. 10:11-2]


The Barren Fig Tree (Lk 13:6-9)
I told Ronnie to ride slowly on super high ways. Well, Ronnie told me that there is nothing to panic as the roads are laid for a comfortable speed of 80 to 100 Kmph. After a few weeks Ronnie comes back one day wounded on his ankles and hands because of an accident that took place on highway. I told Ronnie not to ride on risky roads but wear a helmet that he could be assured against the bad conditioned roads. Ronnie met with another accident 6 months later and was badly wounded and was in the hospital for two month. But unfortunately Ronnie never learnt a lesson. This happened just a few weeks back, in the second week of January this year (2007), as he was riding towards Pune on the highway, he was trying to overtake a long truck but met with a fatal accident and his whole body was crushed. He spent few days in the hospital in semi conscious state and he breathed his last. No one could console his parents. Ronnie never listened to warnings of his friends and well-wishers.

God warns us on various occasions and through different people, circumstances and events that happen in our life. We need to heed so that we take seriously the warning that come to us for our own good.

As we are making our way through the lent we have on this third Sunday a short parable of warning. The parable is known as "The Barren Fig Tree", recorded in Lk 13 : 6-9

That may be true... But the application has as much to do with individual repentance as social repentance. This should make the parable of particular interest to us today, as we attempt to learn from our Lord what He was teaching about the need to repent

[Let's begin our study for a wonderful homily by noticing...]

JESUS WAS RESPONDING TO NEWS ABOUT A CALAMITY - Lk 13:1-5

He was told of how Pilate (the Roman governor) had... Killed some Galileans (Jews from Galilee, the same region Jesus was from) mingled their blood along with their sacrifices. He anticipated the thinking of those who brought Him this news... Were those who suffered such atrocities worse sinners than other Galileans? No, and unless they repented they would likewise perish! He reinforces His point with a reference to a similar calamity, in which a tower in Siloam (in Jerusalem) collapsed and killed eighteen people. Those victims were no worse sinners than others in Jerusalem. He then repeats His warning that unless they repent, they will all likewise perish! Some understand this to be a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. Whether or not, it still called for individual repentance.

THE PARABLE OF THE BARREN FIG TREE – (Today’s Gospel) Lk 13:1-9

The basic elements of the parable... A farmer is disappointed that a fig tree in his vineyard is unfruitful. He wants to cut it down, but is persuaded by the keeper of the vineyard to give it one more year. If no fruit is borne, then the tree is to be cut down. The basic point of the parable... The central lessons of verses 1-5 are clear: "Repent!" The parable in verses 6-9 takes the call to repentance one step further: "Repent NOW!" (HENDRIKSEN). Fruitlessness will not be endured forever!

Those who heard Jesus would appreciate the point, for what farmer desires to put up with a tree that won't bear fruit? But do we today appreciate the point? To help make it even clearer, consider what we can glean from this parable as some...]

LESSONS FOR LENT
WHERE GOD HAS EXTENDED PRIVILEGES, HE EXPECTS RETURNS...

The owner of the vineyard expected the fig tree to bear fruit. He had given it good soil. For three years it had been provided care. He was giving it an extra year, but only for the purpose of bearing fruit. God blessed Israel, and He was disappointed when it did not bear fruit- cf. Is 5:1-7. So He has blessed us through His Son Jesus, and we are to glorify God by bearing fruit - Jn 15:8. Have you utilized the privileges God has given you...?

You are a fig tree: husband, wife, children. Talents, potentialities, time, energy etc. God expects that you bear fruit and bear abundantly.

THE LORD IS PATIENT BUT IT DOESN'T LAST FOREVER...
We see the longsuffering of the owner of the vineyard. He had given the fig tree three years to produce fruit. He was persuaded to give it another year with special care. But that last year was the final opportunity the tree would be given. We see the longsuffering of the Lord in His dealing with Israel. His patience in the wilderness, his patience in the times of the judges, and his endurance during the reigns of the kings and yet, He did take the "kingdom of God" away from them and give it to a nation bearing the fruits of it - cf. Mt 21:43. So the Lord has been patient with us... For He does not want anyone to be lost - 2 Pet 3:9. His longsuffering has been for our salvation - 2 Pet 3:15. But the longsuffering will one day end, and the "day of the Lord" will come - 2 Pet 3:7,10

THOSE WHO ARE UNFRUITFUL WILL BE CUT OFF...
The barren fig tree, if it remained so, was to be cut down. So Jesus warned His disciples that such would happen to them if they did not bear fruit ..."Every Branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;" - Jn 15:2a. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned." - Jn 15:6. Paul warned the Gentile Christians that they would be cut off if they did not remain faithful (which implies fruitfulness) - Rom 11:19-23. We read of the end of those who were saved, but fell away; despite receiving blessings from God, their end is likened to that of thorns and briars - He 6:1-8. That is, "rejected and near to being cursed".

You are a fig tree, but when you do not bear fruit, you will be cut off: Today God observes you through his flock around you, and when you are fruitless; certainly you will be removed, cut off or cast out.

CONCLUSION
In light of such warnings, perhaps we can appreciate more... The two-fold warning given by Jesus: "...unless you repent you will all likewise perish" - Lk 13:3,5. The basic lesson of the parable of "The Barren Fig Tree" What does it mean when it is said that one does not bear fruit? It means that they are doing the work of the flesh: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing and things like these. [Gal. 5:19-21] As Saint Paul says in the Letter to the Galatians, "I am warning you, as I warned you before; those who do these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God." [Gal. 5:21] These are the fig trees that bear no fruit. Repent NOW! - Lk 13:6-9. The time left may be short! Don't think that people who die tragic deaths are any worse sinners than you. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God - Rom 3:23. And the wages of sin is death (eternal separation from God) - Rom 6:23. So if we do not repent, our end will be no less tragic than the worst calamity ever to befall mankind! But the good news of the gospel is that God offers us the gift of eternal life! - Rom 6:23. However, remember the warning for those who do not repent - Rom 2:4-11. And, unlike the barren fig tree, you may have less than a year to bear fruit!

Examples that can benefit you:
Try to find out in your parish how many really try to compete with others, how many try to humiliate and persecute others; give an example of neighbors fighting for property; some fight because of jealousy, they waste their time, energy in just trying to create violent atmosphere around them. How many are just interested in spreading false rumors about others, speaking ill of others etc. You can find out a concrete situation and elaborate so that the message reaches the people. They must carry a lesson home when leaving the church.
 

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