 Word Luke 13:1-9
At that very time there were some present who told Jesus 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.'"
Meditation “Time for Repentance”
When a preacher is out in public, the comments are bound to come. “God helps those who help themselves. It doesn’t matter what you believe, we are all going to the same place. You don’t have to go to church to believe in God. I can find God in nature, besides, Sunday is my only day to sleep in. God sends trouble to test us. When your time is up, you go.” That is all popular religion, faith filtered through an individualistic, materialistic culture. I would like to respond, “You better go to worship and get your head on straight before your time is up, because that attitude is going to eat you up.” But I often just smile and nod.
Jesus was in the middle of a crowd of thousands, and the question came, “Those rowdy Galileans who came to town, stirred up trouble and were executed by Pilate, did they die because God was punishing them?” Jesus replied, “No, but unless you repent, you will perish!” Jesus heard the rumblings of a second question and beat them to it, “That construction accident in which all those workers died, was God punishing them? No, but unless you repent, you will perish!” Repent or perish. Sounds like it’s time for repentance.
Repentance means getting a new attitude, seeing life with a new set of eyes. To perish does not mean to die, but to be destroyed or consumed. It is not God-caused but self-caused. Do you really think that Jesus died on the cross so that God can punish bad people, so that only the strong survive, so that you can have your opinion about God, so that you can find God on a mountain, at a lake or with your head in your pillow ? If you are going to go on thinking like that, you are oblivious in illusion, and you will be destroyed by guilt and consumed with anxiety. Our lives are tragedies in the making, filled with accidents, bad choices and death. In the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is time to enter God’s world of comedy, the holy surprise of life and laughter, mercy and forgiveness. It is time for a new attitude, time for repentance.
It is not only time for repentance, but God gives you time for repentance. In the parable of the fig tree, Jesus promises you time to get a new attitude. This time is offered to you in the mystery of sacrament. In the breaking of bread and sharing the cup, you are given a place of pardon, a moment of mercy. Holy Communion is your place of pardon, where Jesus rises from the dead, a death we all caused, to forgive your sin. Holy Communion is your moment of mercy, where you are reconciled in Christ and restored to intimacy with God. Holy Communion is that time when Christ enters your life and says, “Peace be with you!” This is our feast of grace. This is where Lord comes near. This is where our fear of punishment becomes God’s promise of pardon. This is where our wanderings end in the mercy of God. Holy Communion is our time for repentance.
Prayer
Eternal God, your kingdom has broken in to our troubled world through the life, death and resurrection of your Son. Help us to hear your word and obey it, and bring your saving love to fruition in our lives; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
NEXT WEEK IN WORSHIP
March 14, 2010: Fourth Sunday in Lent
Joshua 5:9-12 Psalm 32 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
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