CONSEQUENCES

I often remind my students that they are responsible for the consequences of their actions, whether good or bad.  Jesus reminds the people that if they do not repent, the consequence will be that they will perish.  In the parable of the fig tree we hear that the owner of the orchard was impatient because after three years the tree did not produce any fruit.  He told the gardener to cut it down.  The gardener, however, tells the owner to be patient, and after one more year if it does not produce fruit, it will regrettably be cut down.

We are like the fig tree. We are called to be fruitful in our lives.  We can be fruitful by how we are with others in our families, our ministries, our places of work, and in our own spiritual lives.  Yet, in our human weaknesses we sometimes fail.  Just as the gardener asks for patience in giving the tree one more year, so also does Jesus have patience with us.  He calls us to repentance and healing. Jesus waits for us to turn our bad choices around and produce good fruit by making good choices for ourselves.  Just as the gardener was willing to cultivate and fertilize the soil, we also must be willing to cultivate our lives with prayer, reconciliation and good works.  Lent is a season in which we can do this.  Jesus' message to repent is urgent.  Each one of us responsible for the consequences of our actions.