Things may not be as they appear
"Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!
Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them— do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!"
Jesus tells us that just because we perceive something as a certain way, the reality may not be the case - in fact it may be drastically different. How we perceive things is tainted by our biases and preconceived notions of things and people. "Look at that young homeless man. He must be addicted on drugs and now have no money and no job." "She probably doesn't speak English well. Look at her." "Wow. He was once at the top of his company, now he's without a job. He must have partaken in corruption." Those are all ways in which we perceive situations and people and judge them based on what we knew or were taught growing up, by family, social situations, social media, school settings, community, etc. Oftentimes those perceptions are just that: perceptions. They do not tell the true story, the reality. We make assumptions and judgments without even communicating with that individual or researching that situation. Perceptions do not equal reality.
In today's Gospel (Lk. 13:1-9), Jesus assures the people that just because certain people met a certain fate, it does not mean they were in anyway inferior, less loved, or less important than those who did not suffer or die in that manner. We are told to worry about ourselves and to get our act together and not waste time judging or gossiping about others. So, in addition to what we may see on the surface there may be a deeper story to it. Just like the fig tree. There may not have been fruit for three years, but perhaps this particular tree needed more time in growing and extending its roots. Maybe the plot of soil where it was planted did not get as much nourishment as the other areas. There are many factors that could have contributed to the fig tree not bearing fruit. It is the same with our own lives. We are all different. Sometimes there is growth and struggle happening within ourselves that others will not be able to see on the outside. But, just because we cannot see anything on the outside, it does not mean that nothing is happening on the inside. Let us not give up on ourselves so easily. Let us not give up on others so readily. Let us never give up on hope.
The Divine Gardener begs for us to not be given up on. God loves us, but we also must act. We must repent and make things right. It is time to bear fruit. It is time to show the world who we truly are: beloved daughters and sons of the Father. We truly are indeed.
Let us show this deep interior reality exteriorly so that all can see the fruits of such love: joy, peace, and hope. Ask God for the grace of courage and fortitude to do so, as well as the grace of humility to see our weaknesses and to accept His love.
Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them— do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!"
Jesus tells us that just because we perceive something as a certain way, the reality may not be the case - in fact it may be drastically different. How we perceive things is tainted by our biases and preconceived notions of things and people. "Look at that young homeless man. He must be addicted on drugs and now have no money and no job." "She probably doesn't speak English well. Look at her." "Wow. He was once at the top of his company, now he's without a job. He must have partaken in corruption." Those are all ways in which we perceive situations and people and judge them based on what we knew or were taught growing up, by family, social situations, social media, school settings, community, etc. Oftentimes those perceptions are just that: perceptions. They do not tell the true story, the reality. We make assumptions and judgments without even communicating with that individual or researching that situation. Perceptions do not equal reality.
In today's Gospel (Lk. 13:1-9), Jesus assures the people that just because certain people met a certain fate, it does not mean they were in anyway inferior, less loved, or less important than those who did not suffer or die in that manner. We are told to worry about ourselves and to get our act together and not waste time judging or gossiping about others. So, in addition to what we may see on the surface there may be a deeper story to it. Just like the fig tree. There may not have been fruit for three years, but perhaps this particular tree needed more time in growing and extending its roots. Maybe the plot of soil where it was planted did not get as much nourishment as the other areas. There are many factors that could have contributed to the fig tree not bearing fruit. It is the same with our own lives. We are all different. Sometimes there is growth and struggle happening within ourselves that others will not be able to see on the outside. But, just because we cannot see anything on the outside, it does not mean that nothing is happening on the inside. Let us not give up on ourselves so easily. Let us not give up on others so readily. Let us never give up on hope.
The Divine Gardener begs for us to not be given up on. God loves us, but we also must act. We must repent and make things right. It is time to bear fruit. It is time to show the world who we truly are: beloved daughters and sons of the Father. We truly are indeed.
Let us show this deep interior reality exteriorly so that all can see the fruits of such love: joy, peace, and hope. Ask God for the grace of courage and fortitude to do so, as well as the grace of humility to see our weaknesses and to accept His love.
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