Reflection for  Saturday, 29th Week of Ordinary Time 

By

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Director, Social Action Movement, Don Bosco Bidar

Today's WORD of GOD

Luke 13: 1- 9 

 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.  Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.  Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?  I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.

 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down!Why should it use up the soil?’ 

 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” 

 Today's Reflection

The ideals of Christian Unity are Highlighted in Ephesians. Together, All Believers form the One “Body of CHRIST,” still Growing Towards the State of Perfection GOD Wants for Us. Through Our Union with CHRIST the Whole Body Grows & the Members are Kept United in Love.

The Theme of Misfortune is Discussed in the Story about the Galilean Pilgrims who were Killed by Pontius Pilate & Others who were Killed by a Falling Tower at Siloam, just Outside the Walls of Jerusalem. 

Their Fate Shows how Innocent People are just as Subject to Misfortune as the Guilty. 

In spite of the General Biblical View that Sinful Behaviour will be Punished, It Does Not Follow that People who Suffer must have been Sinners. 

So much of the Suffering in This World is Caused by Other People, as in the Case of JESUS' Own Passion & Death.

Positively, We are Called to Form One Body in CHRIST, & Each has Specific Gifts to Contribute to the Health of that Body. Paul Lists Some of the Main Gifts (Charisms) : Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors & Teachers, All Meant to Build Up the Body of CHRIST. Their Many Services are for the Good of the Whole Community, just as All Parts in the Human Body have a Vital Part to Play. 

This Analogy is More Fully Developed Elsewhere, ” If All the Members were Alike, where would the Body Be?” 

(1 Cor 12: 19).

In the CHURCH, Each Member has a Duty of Care for the Others. 

But in Practice, the Variety of Gifts & Roles can Stir Envy, Rivalry, or even Arrogance. 

So the Administrator must Beware of Micro-Managing, Teachers must Not Be Dogmatic, Pragmatists must Not Neglect Some Study & Reflection, Nor should the Contemplative Refuse to Do Any Work. 

Bearing Fruit for GOD

All Parables Make Us Ponder what They Might Mean. JESUS Imagines a Withering Fig Tree that has Failed to Bear Fruit for the Past 3 Years. The Reaction of the Owner Seems Quite Normal. That Fig Tree must be Cut Down because It is only Wasting Space in the Vineyard.

But the Gardener had a Different Perspective. Looking Closely at the Ailing Fig Tree He Saw that with Care It could Still Bear Fruit. Experience had Taught Him a More Hopeful Vision. With the Help of Some Fertiliser All was Not Lost & the Fig Tree could Revive & Fruit Again.

This is how GOD Regards Us. In spite of what We Have Failed to Do Up to Now, HE Knows All We are Capable of Doing in the Future. 

GOD Sees the Potential in Each of Us; & Indeed, that’s how We must Regard Each Other & Everything in Life, with Hopeful Eyes. 


Good Morning

Have a lovely day and a great weekend

God bless you with his abundant mercies.