Third Sunday of Lent
Exodus 3:1-15 First Corinthians 10:1-12 Luke 13:1-9
Stuff happens. In answer to the question: ‘Why did this happen to me, to my family, to my mom, my dad, my friends???’ Because stuff can happen. Cancer can happen; it is but another disease that afflicts us. People trip, fall and hurt themselves because we can become clumsy or tangled up in our own feet. No curse of God, no punishment for bad choices. While we strive to always connect the dots and figure out a ‘cause and result’ scenario for things….most things in life simply occur because they can.
Of course, if we embrace risky behavior we should not surprised when our choices reap bad consequences. If we smoke, why would we be surprised if we develop lung cancer? If we cheat on our spouse, why are we surprised that our marriage falls apart and our kids don’t want to speak to us? If we lie on our resume, why are we surprised when we are later fired from the position we obtained with deceit? If we play soccer or football, should we be surprised if we get a concussion or fall and break an arm or ankle? These things are nothing more than the ‘acceptable risk’ that we have presumably embraced….but they should not be perceived as the ‘hand of God’ or punishment from God. Stuff happens. How we deal with it, now that is a whole different story!
In today’s Gospel Jesus paints this same picture in referencing the poor souls killed in a falling tower (shades of Haiti!!!), they did not die because of any sinful actions on their part, they just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. BUT, Jesus encourages people to become thoughtful and pro-active in their life choices, lest we stumble into behavior and selections that will have natural consequences that may cause much grief and suffering. Jesus describes a patient God the Father as the owner of a non-fruit bearing fig tree, with which he has become irritated and disappointed. Please note it is the ‘gardener’ (Jesus) who speaks on behalf of the wayward tree, urging patience, offering additional chances for fruit to be borne.
As we approach the mid-way point, where have all our life-choices led us? Have our financial investments brought us wholeness and peace? Is our life productive, generating loving relationships and contributing to the overall wellbeing of our society? Have we perhaps fallen into disrepair? Have we lost our way, abandoned the effort to live lives of value and integrity? Have we turned from the face of Jesus and no longer consider our relationship with him but only what we want…and to get whatever it is that we decide we should posses? In any case, remember, stuff happens….but sometimes we enter into risky behavior from which more dark stuff can happen than if we had chosen our paths more carefully. Not to worry though, Lent keeps on coming….because God is patient and next week will once again speak to our hearts and seek change, fruit and transformation!
As Winter begins to loosen its grip and Spring creeps closer, remember, you are loved! FKB
