Wednesday, November 5, 2008

The First Right Step.

Reflection on Lk. 13:1-9

Sometimes we have a tendency to cover ourselves by pointing to the faults of others. We thought that by putting the light on somebody, we can evade judgment. We thought by blaming others, our own blames will disappear. The fact is, it is temporary. What we have, we have. We may not be in center stage, but we are still going up the stage. The Gospel today exposes that effort of the people to put the blame on the Galileans. To expose the the "exposers" , in turn, Jesus even included the eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them. Jesus, in both cases was quick to tell them that the way they died does not necessarily measure their guilt. He was leading them to the essence of repentance as the key to change and holiness and not dwell on the bad fate that befell other people. Focusing on the way of death may temper our guilt. Admitting once guilt and repenting for one's sin resolve everything. Therefore, anybody who does not acknowledge his sin may be even worse than those who had suffered and died.

Jesus was still dealing here with the hard-headedness and hard-heartedness of the people. They were being hurt and threatened by the words of Jesus. Instead of applying those words to themselves, they would rather point to somebody. They were confused of Jesus. Who is this person? How could the son of a carpenter and an ordinary lass say these words? He came from Nazareth where nothing good was expected! Their eyes were being blinded by their biases. Jesus can not be the Messiah they were waiting for. They could not accept this kind of messiah. And yet He makes sense. He was able to penetrate their soul. They could not deny the truth of His words. Even the traps they had laid before Him had been convincingly answered and refuted. Just who is Jesus?

This thinking will continue and affect them the whole time of their interaction with Jesus. Jesus was an enigma to them. But Jesus knew this. That is why He tried to enlighten them about Himself. He gave them opportunities to accept Him. He spoke in words and situations that were familiar to them. He told them the parable of the fig tree to give them the message that God is patient. God, in fact, cares for them and takes care of them as signified by the digging and the manuring of the tree. The parable expresses the hope of Jesus for the people. Jesus did not believe that Israel's final answer was a "no" or a total and absolute rejection of Him. He was right. They may have succeeded in crucifying Him and putting Him to death, but His disciples testify to the fact that not all of Israel rejected Him. Through the apostles, the Christian faith was born and became the locus of interaction between God and His People. Up to now, God is being patient. He wanted us to be with Him. As Jesus promised, no one was lost. When He died on the cross, He died once and for all!

As for us, the grace of salvation had already been merited to us by Jesus. But we have to accept that grace. To accept it, we must be worthy of it. Unworthiness renders it useless. Even if God had given it as a gift, worthiness is the only state we can fully benefit from it. And we can start by accepting our weaknesses and walk the road of repentance. That is how change happens. If all of us will decide to change, change happens right there. But if we require others to change first, then nothing happens (because the other also requires us to change first!). 

The Prodigal Son. Zacchaeus, Matthew, Peter, the thief, and others who had recognized their sins and their need to be one again with God, all made the first right step to conversion. Repentance.

No comments: