Be alert rather than judge

Luke 13 : 1 - 9

Do not think they were worse sinners.....

It is easy to presume and connect every calamity and suffering to the sin of the sufferers. Perhaps they were not careful; perhaps they were not exhibiting prudent behavior. Perhaps they were more sinful than most, and being 'judged' by God. Pilate's cruel act of killing some people in Galilee and the 'accidental' fall of the tower were calamities. It would have been natural for people to start speculating on the sinfulness of the victims. This would have made the calamity easier to understand and it would have placed such suffering at a distance.

But Jesus used this train of thought as a teaching moment. He turns the table around and informs them not to presume that calamities just happen to the sinful and those unfaithful to God. He issues a warning to those who take things for granted, and to us as well - should we begin to feel too comfortably lax with our lives - leaving no place for regular examination and deepening conversion. He talks about bearing good fruit in our lives. Elsewhere he has said that good trees bear good fruit. The tree must be healthy to be productive. The Lord invites us to deep transformation, to deep soul health.

Calamities will come - often without our understanding why or being able to stop them. Jesus does not focus on these 'expected' happenings. We will not be exempted in a life of faith. What is crucial is to tend the inner garden and make sure that the tree is healthy enough to produce good fruit. And he graciously does give us adequate time to set things right.