Lent
Luke 13:1–9
1There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." 6 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' 8And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
First of all compliments are in order this morning to all of you here today. You are the faithful few. The dedicated followers of Jesus Christ who are most committed to him. Your lives are for the most part exemplary. Of course there are those moments and occasional times when you make a mistake or fall to a temptation, but overall you follow faithfully and God shines his face upon you and gives you peace because you are good people; you are religious; you are Christians.
Moreover, we can know of people who are not such faithful, dedicated Christians. We could point out the flaws of some people, their weakness of faith. We can all spot the hypocrites and those who just don't tow the line. Some just don't seem to grow in faith. Others just don't get over their sinful attitudes and behavior. It's easy to tell who the real Christians are and sort out the fake ones and those who just don't seem to catch on to what it means to be Christians. Would that all were as dedicated and faithful as you who at least bothered to come here this morning.
You have much in common with the Israelite people. They were also dedicated and committed believers. They were the chosen people of God; the ones God brought out of Egypt with signs and wonders and great power. God made his covenants with them; gave them his word; spoke with them; fought for them; accompanied them. They were successful in battle; prosperous in business; and became one of the wealthiest nations on earth. King David and King Solomon lived in splendid palaces with the greatest luxuries and riches of any kings in the world. They were favored by God. And this favor showed how pleased God was with them.
They were much like us. We see that those who do good, who follow biblical principles in their lives, who are religious and more advanced spiritually are favored by God. They have fewer problems, are more successful, obtain their dreams and have happier lives than those who don't. Especially obvious are natural or human disasters. A hurricane wipes out a city, an earthquake destroys a nation and Christian pundits fill the airwaves talking about how God is punishing them for sexual immorality, idol worship, abortions and the like. A terror attack occurs and everyone scrambles to figure out why it happened. What the victims did so terribly wrong to make the terrorists angry.
We know God favors and blesses the good, and sends punishments and difficulties to the bad. So today people go from church to church, looking for the one that will most likely give them happiness, success, and build their futures and help them achieve their goals. Because at the end of the day, the one who does all the right things will get what he wants and God will give him the happiness he longs for.
To us Jesus is speaking through the words of the gospel reading. People told him that Pilate had massacred Galilean Jews as they offered their sacrifices. Then there was a tower in Jerusalem that collapsed and killed 18 people. Jesus asked them, "Do you think that these were worse sinners than all the others who lived in Galilee and Jerusalem?" In other words, "Were these people being punished for their sins? Is that why these disasters occurred?"
The obvious answer was "Yes." For as we are told in the book of Job, "If you are pure and upright, surely then God will rouse himself for you and restore you."