The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/102216.cfm0
reminds me that God gives us opportunities to repent.
The first time to do something
is always challenging. We are currently working on an ISO certification, the
first time we are doing it, and it is very challenging, especially when
creating templates and other documents. We are not
sure if we are doing it right. We do not know what to expect. We do not know a
lot of things. That is why we feel better and more comfortable the second time
we do things. This is what we are given.
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. He 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.
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 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:
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October 22, 2016
Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 478
Reading 1 Eph 4:7-16
Brothers and sisters:
Grace was given to each of us
according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Therefore, it says:
He ascended on high and took prisoners captive;
he gave gifts to men.
What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended
into the lower regions of the earth?
The one who descended is also the one who ascended
far above all the heavens,
that he might fill all things.
And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,
others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,
for building up the Body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith
and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood
to the extent of the full stature of Christ,
so that we may no longer be infants,
tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching
arising from human trickery,
from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.
Rather, living the truth in love,
we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ,
from whom the whole Body,
joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
with the proper functioning of each part,
brings about the Body’s growth and builds itself up in love.
Grace was given to each of us
according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Therefore, it says:
He ascended on high and took prisoners captive;
he gave gifts to men.
What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended
into the lower regions of the earth?
The one who descended is also the one who ascended
far above all the heavens,
that he might fill all things.
And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,
others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,
for building up the Body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith
and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood
to the extent of the full stature of Christ,
so that we may no longer be infants,
tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching
arising from human trickery,
from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.
Rather, living the truth in love,
we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ,
from whom the whole Body,
joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
with the proper functioning of each part,
brings about the Body’s growth and builds itself up in love.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
R. (1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Alleluia Ez 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.
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.’”
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
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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