Repentance and Life!

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Eph 4:7-16; Lk 13:1-9

Today’s Gospel highlights the connection between sin and death and repentance and life. 

Jesus’ explanation comes in two steps.

1.Though Jesus makes use of the historical incidents to teach the importance of repentance to the crowd, he shows that those dead did not die because of their sinfulness but of ill fate. Jesus takes the reality of death to emphasize that the unrepentant would meet a similar fate. We must note that here the dead are not mocked but are turned into a message. 

2. Through the parable of the unyielding fig tree, Jesus demonstrates the connection between repentance and life. The fig tree would not be cut down if it produced fruit. Similarly, we will enter into eternal life if we repent. 

In his explanation, Jesus underlines God’s mercy that always forgives those who turn in remorse. 

God does not condemn sinners because our God is a God of love. 

God does not will our deaths because our God is a God of life. 

If we turn to God in repentance, we will be privileged with the merciful blessings. 

Let us pray that we may flourish as God’s children who always turn to their Father in love. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar