The Call to Repentance 

One of the main calls to us in Lent is the call to repentance.  In the Gospel reading today, Jesus makes three different but related appeals to people to take the opportunity to repent while there is time.

Firstly, he appeals to a recent tragedy in which some Galileans were killed by Pilate in Jerusalem.  Jesus makes it clear that they were not worse sinners than all the other Galileans.  But he does not mince his words in pointing out that others who do not repent will perish.

Secondly, he appeals to what sounds to have been an unfortunate accident when a tower collapsed and resulted in the death of innocent people.  Again, he makes the point that these people weren’t worse sinners than others.  The warning is the same as before.

And thirdly, Jesus tells a strange parable about a fig tree which might appear puzzling at first.  The owner of the fig tree tells the vine dresser to cut it down as it has not produced fruit for three years.  The vine dresser asks for the tree to be dug round and manured and given the chance of another year.  

Taken together, the three parts of the reading do urge us in stark terms to take the opportunity to repent whilst it is still here but at the same time show us that God gives us another chance when we might not have expected one.  There are plenty of opportunities to make a good Confession this Lent, especially at the Reconciliation Service on Wednesday 9th April.  

God bless, Fr Kevin.