Reflection for October 24 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. Jesus 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:

Would we obey Jesus’ call to repentance?

Repentance is something we all need because we are all sinners. But why are many of us unwilling to heed Jesus’ call to repentance? One reason is that we lack the virtue of humility. Many of us have also mortgaged our lives to the devil in exchange for the temporary pleasures of sin. Because of our pride and attachment to worldly pleasures, we sometimes turn away from God instead of humbly responding to His loving call to repent.

But what price are we willing to pay for ignoring Jesus’ call to repentance? Are we willing to risk losing our peace, damaging our relationship with God, and jeopardizing our eternal salvation simply because we refuse to turn away from sin? No earthly pleasure is worth the loss of our relationship with Jesus, for the pleasures of this world are temporary, but the joy of being with God is everlasting.

When we sincerely repent, we begin to experience the freedom and peace that come from turning back to God. The heavy burden of sin can be lifted from our hearts, our consciences can find peace, and our relationship with Jesus can be restored through His mercy and forgiveness. Yet many of us continue to resist His loving invitation. Instead of breaking free from sin, we allow ourselves to remain its slaves. Instead of embracing God, who desires our salvation, we sometimes choose the temptations of the devil, which lead us away from Him.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls us to repent of all our sins. This means that we must be willing to turn away from our sinful thoughts, words, and actions. We must also have the courage to distance ourselves from people, situations, and influences that lead us into sin, while continuing to treat everyone with love and compassion. Above all, we must humble ourselves and seek the healing grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where we can confess our sins, receive God’s forgiveness, and begin anew with hearts renewed by His mercy.

Let us remember that Jesus does not call us to repentance because He wants to condemn us. He calls us because He loves us and desires to free us from the chains of sin. No matter how far we have wandered, His mercy remains an invitation to return to Him. Let us not allow pride, worldly pleasures, or our attachment to sin to keep us away from His loving embrace. Instead, let us open our hearts to His grace and take the necessary steps toward a life of holiness and faithfulness.

Today, Jesus is calling each of us to repent and return to Him. Will we humble ourselves, let go of the sins that enslave us, and accept His healing mercy, or will we continue to cling to temporary worldly pleasures at the expense of our relationship with the Lord who loves us and desires to lead us to eternal life?— Marino J. Dasmarinas