Reflection for October 25 Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:1-9

Gospel: Luke 13:1-9

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.’”

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Reflection:

What does sin do to us? It makes our lives miserable and burdensome. Yet sin does not immediately show its true colors. It disguises itself as something pleasurable—something that seems to make life more exciting and fulfilling. But once we are already deep into it, it reveals its ugly face and traps us in its misery.

Through today’s Gospel, Jesus lovingly calls us to change our ways and turn away from our sinfulness. He has been so patient with us, even though we have offended Him countless times. Day after day, He gently whispers to our hearts, inviting us to walk away from the darkness of sin while there is still time. Let us not turn a deaf ear to His call for repentance.

When will we listen to Him? Should we wait until we are weak, helpless, or lying on our deathbeds? By then, it might already be too late. Let us listen to His voice now—while we are still strong, healthy, and able. Jesus loves us so deeply that He longs to free us from the chains of sin that enslave us. But this freedom will only happen if we humbly open our hearts and respond to His invitation to repentance.

If we ignore His call, we allow ourselves to remain enslaved by the devil—and we know that the devil offers nothing but misery and despair. Do we really want to live such a life? Of course not. None of us desires a life filled with emptiness and guilt.

Let us, therefore, listen to Jesus’ loving call. Let us repent, turn away from our sins, and walk once more in the light of His mercy and love. His arms are always open, waiting to embrace us and restore our joy.

Will we continue to run away from His mercy—or will we finally say “yes” to His call and allow His love to transform our lives today? — Marino J. Dasmarinas