Homily on Luke 13:1-9
Luke 13:1-9
At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He 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 he 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?' He 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.'"
Dear Folks,
Grace and peace be with you!
This Gospel reading from Luke presents us with a stark and challenging message. It begins with a report of tragedy, a brutal act of violence where innocent Galileans were killed by Pilate, their blood mingling with their sacrifices. And then, another tragedy – the collapse of the tower of Siloam, claiming the lives of eighteen people.
In the face of such suffering, it’s a natural human instinct to look for reasons, to try and make sense of the senseless. The people who came to Jesus that day were no different. They seemed to be asking, perhaps implicitly, “Why did this happen to them? Were they worse sinners than us?”
Jesus’s response is direct and unsettling: “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.” He repeats this same warning after the account of the tower collapse.
These words are not meant to instill fear, but to awaken us. Jesus is not saying that suffering is random or meaningless. Instead, he is using these tragic events as a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and the urgency of our spiritual state. He is cutting through our tendency to judge others and pointing the finger squarely at ourselves.
He is saying, in essence: “Don’t focus on their supposed sins. Focus on your own need for repentance.”
What does it mean to repent? It’s more than just saying sorry. It’s a fundamental turning away from sin and towards God. It’s a change of heart, a transformation of our lives. It’s recognizing our shortcomings and actively striving to live according to God’s will.
Jesus then reinforces this message with a powerful parable – the story of the barren fig tree. For three years, the owner has come looking for fruit, but found none. He’s ready to give up, to cut it down, deeming it a waste of precious soil.
But the gardener intervenes, pleading for one more year. He promises to dig around the tree, to nourish it with manure, to give it every possible chance to bear fruit.
This parable speaks volumes about God’s incredible patience and mercy. He doesn’t immediately give up on us when we fail to produce the fruits of faith – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He gives us time, he nurtures us, he provides us with the grace we need to grow.
But the parable also carries a warning. The gardener’s plea is for “one more year.” This implies that there is a limit to God’s patience. The opportunity to bear fruit is not endless. If, after all the care and attention, the tree still remains barren, then the consequence is clear.
Brothers and sisters, this Gospel reading calls us to serious self-reflection. Are we bearing fruit in our lives? Are we living in a way that reflects God’s love and grace? Are we actively working to turn away from sin and grow closer to Him?
This season of Lent, in particular, is a time for us to be like the gardener, digging around our own hearts, removing the weeds of sin, and nourishing ourselves with prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It’s a time to examine our lives honestly and ask ourselves if we are truly producing the fruit that God desires.
Let us not take God’s patience for granted. Let us not assume that we have unlimited time to repent and bear fruit. The tragedies recounted in today’s Gospel serve as a stark reminder of the unexpected nature of life and the importance of being ready.
Let us heed Jesus’s call to repentance. Let us embrace the opportunity we have been given to grow and flourish in God’s love. And let us pray that, when the time comes, we will be found bearing an abundant harvest of good works, pleasing in the sight of our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Love,
+Br'er Abbot
The Most Reverend Brian Ernest Brown, CWC
Sacramental Community of the Coworkers of Christ
