Homily Thoughts - 3-Lent C

   In today's Gospel (Lk 13: 1-9), Jesus comments on the signs of his day.  First, he speaks of an otherwise-unknown event where Pilate desecrated the offerings of the temple with the killing (shedding of blood) of some Galileans.  Then he remarks about eighteen people who were killed in a construciton accident in Siloam where a tower fell upon them.  All one needs to do is turn the TV or radio, or open the newspaper to hear more than one's fill of depressing news-- the failure of politics, the corruption of power, the oppression of the poor and needy, the indignity of human beings toward one another, natural disasters, crime, accidents, lawsuits, and on and on and on...

   Jesus seems to be making one point about 'being prepared'.  We know not the day nor the hour when lightning will strike and we may find ourselves standing before the throne of God, accounting for our lives.  Did the Galileans expect to be mowed down on that fateful day?  How about the construciton workers in Siloam?  Any day we could step out into the street, to be felled by someone running the right-of-way.  Any day, we could slip and break our necks on a step.  Any day, we could come down with or be diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.  This is the day and we stand in the light.  Should we not use this time, particularly in the season of Lent, to be sure that we are completely prepared to give an accounting before God of our lives?

   But then Jesus tells a story about a recenly-planted fig tree... one that was yet to give fruit.  The land-owner would put all of his effort in the coming season to make sure that the environment was optimal for the tree-- to cultivate the land, water and nourish it--and if it still doesn't give fruit, then it would be cut down.  Jesus is drawing a distinction, I think, between those things we can handle and change, and those we cannot.  We cannot prevent or even be faulted for disasters or accidents... we must simply be prepared for them.  But for those things we can change... our attitudes, actions, relationships... we need to take advantage of this season of change and growth and fruitfulness.

   Lent is that season for growth and change in the love and mercy of God.  God's love is all consuming for his people, burning like a bright fire, yet not competing or destroying our free will and our humble human efforts.  God perfects our striving for holiness and makes our lives fruitful through his grace... a grace that enlightens and engulfs, but does not consume or destroy.

   There are many things we have direct control over in our lives that can guide us on the pathway to peace, happiness, and contentment.  We have this season to make the most of those opportunities through God's grace.  There are many more events, with potentially disastrous outcomes, that we do not have control over.  We have this season also to make the most of these opportunties as well, that when the darkness of this world and its fickle game of chance envelops us, that we will be seen as standing firm and ready to endure well.