The WORD today reminds me that God gives us opportunities to repent.
The
first time to do something is always challenging. Back in 2016 when it was our
first time to work on an ISO certification for Business Continuity, it was
very challenging, especially when creating templates and other documents. We
were not sure if we were doing it right. We did not know what to expect
from the audit. We did not know a lot of things. That is why we feel better and
more comfortable the second time we do things. This is what God gives us.
Jesus
gives us second chances to do things right
In
the gospel, we see Jesus as the gardener who asks the owner, God, for a second
chance for us, the tree not bearing fruit, before cutting it down. What's
interesting to note is that it was not a spur of the moment decision for the
owner. The owner waited for three years for the tree to bear fruit. He was
patient. And when he was about to have it cut, the gardener asked him for
another chance for the tree.
The
gardener will not just ask for another chance and then do nothing, expecting
the tree to bear fruit on its own. He will do his part. He will give his
best effort. He will do whatever he can, fertilize the soil, water the tree,
etc, to make a better environment for the tree. He will do everything in his
capacity to help the tree. The only thing he cannot do is bear fruit for the
tree. That’s the part of the tree already.
This
is also how God deals with us.
God
gives us opportunities to bear fruit and do things right. He
gives us opportunities to grow in Him. He gives us people to
guide and inspire us. He gave us the Church and the sacraments to help us grow
in our faith. He gives us all that we need to grow in him and bear
good fruit. But ultimately, it is our choice if we will allow Him to get
through us. It is our choice to bear fruit for God and make the most out of the
opportunities and second chances he gives us.
What
things should I stop doing? What things should I start doing? How is God
getting through to me? What opportunities and people does he use to remind me
and give me opportunities to repent and change my ways? How am I responding to
Him?
May
we be sensitive to God's call and opportunities, and cooperate with and submit
to him so he can transform us to bear fruit.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live.
Thank you for this weekend. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you.
Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your great love for me. Lord, sorry
for the times I ignore you and your messages and reminders. Sorry for doing
things my way. I ask that you help me be sensitive to your calls and
opportunities you give me to change my ways and repent. Help me have the will
to do it. Help me choose you over all the pleasures of this life. As I do so, I
have faith that you would transform me and enable me to bear fruits for you.
May my life show you how much I love you. Amen.
Blessed Weekend!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflections:
October 26 2019
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Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 478
Lectionary: 478
Reading
1 ROM 8:1-11
Brothers
and sisters:
Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has freed you from the law of sin and death.
For what the law, weakened by the flesh, was powerless to do,
this God has done:
by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh
and for the sake of sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
so that the righteous decree of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who live not according to the flesh but according to the spirit.
For those who live according to the flesh
are concerned with the things of the flesh,
but those who live according to the spirit
with the things of the spirit.
The concern of the flesh is death,
but the concern of the spirit is life and peace.
For the concern of the flesh is hostility toward God;
it does not submit to the law of God, nor can it;
and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh;
on the contrary, you are in the spirit,
if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
But if Christ is in you,
although the body is dead because of sin,
the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has freed you from the law of sin and death.
For what the law, weakened by the flesh, was powerless to do,
this God has done:
by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh
and for the sake of sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
so that the righteous decree of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who live not according to the flesh but according to the spirit.
For those who live according to the flesh
are concerned with the things of the flesh,
but those who live according to the spirit
with the things of the spirit.
The concern of the flesh is death,
but the concern of the spirit is life and peace.
For the concern of the flesh is hostility toward God;
it does not submit to the law of God, nor can it;
and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh;
on the contrary, you are in the spirit,
if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
But if Christ is in you,
although the body is dead because of sin,
the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Responsorial
Psalm PS
24:1B-2, 3-4AB, 5-6
R.(see
6) Lord, this is the people that
longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
AlleluiaEZ 33:11
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,
but rather in his conversion that he may live.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,
but rather in his conversion that he may live.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK
13:1-9
Some
people told Jesus about the Galileans
whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.
He said to them in reply,
"Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!
Or those eighteen people who were killed
when the tower at Siloam fell on them—
do you think they were more guilty
than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!"
And he told them this parable:
"There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,
and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,
he said to the gardener,
'For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree
but have found none.
So cut it down.
Why should it exhaust the soil?'
He said to him in reply,
'Sir, leave it for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;
it may bear fruit in the future.
If not you can cut it down.'"
whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.
He said to them in reply,
"Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!
Or those eighteen people who were killed
when the tower at Siloam fell on them—
do you think they were more guilty
than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!"
And he told them this parable:
"There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,
and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,
he said to the gardener,
'For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree
but have found none.
So cut it down.
Why should it exhaust the soil?'
He said to him in reply,
'Sir, leave it for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;
it may bear fruit in the future.
If not you can cut it down.'"
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