Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11.
1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12
God's Second Chances
In the First Reading, we continue to review some of the most important moments in the history of salvation. Last week, we heard the story of how God elevated one of his promises to Abram to a covenant: Abram would become the father of a great nation. This week, we learn about God’s plan to save the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob from slavery in Egypt and lead them to the land promised to Abram. When Moses asks God what his name is, God responds: “I am who am” (Exodus 3:14). This name reveals something about God’s nature as well as his fidelity. He is without beginning or end. He is eternal and the creator of all that exists. He will be there for his children and accompany Moses on the mission to save his people. God is faithful to his covenant promises and wills that through Abraham’s descendant, all people can enjoy the merciful blessing of the forgiveness of their sins and become his sons and daughters.
The people of Israel suffered greatly under the oppressive rule of Egypt for more than 400 years. Did they suffer unjustly or was God angry with them? God was faithful to his people Israel even amid their affliction and ill treatment by their Egyptian taskmaster. God in his mercy did not forget them nor forsake them. Throughout their long history of exile and suffering God made them strong and they grew in number. God listened to their plea for mercy and freedom. And God raised up a saviour for them, called Moses, whom he taught and tested in the wilderness until he was ready to hear and obey God's call.
God's mercy however was taken for granted by the Israelites and rebelled against Him. Thus, many died in the desert, and only Joshua and Caleb from the older generation entered the promised land. Saint Paul in the second reading teaches us that these things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did, and warns us that we should not grumble and rebel against God as some of them did and suffered death by the destroyer. These things have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of the ages has come. We should never take God's mercy for granted otherwise we will be struck down at the time we are not ready. Saint Paul therefore warns us that whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.
The Gospel of today also points out this aspect by emphasizing God's patience and second chances which he gives us and how our time is limited to grab those second chances. He uses a parable of a fig tree to emphasize his message. It is a parable of a man who had a fig tree and had been coming to collect fruits for three years, but he couldn't get any. At this moment, he had come to cut it, but his servant pleaded with him to leave it for another year while he gave it fertilizer and tilled it and if it doesn't give fruit after one year, it will be cut. The man gives the tree a second chance. God also deals with us in the same way.
No doubt that the man who had a fig tree can be considered as God and the fig tree is us, His people. The servant who pleaded on behalf of the tree is the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us and completes our prayers. This also can be our saints who all intercede for us, and the church, Christ's body on earth. God always gives us second chances to repent and come back to him when we have strayed away from Him. When this chance is given, let us grab it, use it wisely and repent so that God will welcome us back. This second chance is there for us to bear fruit according to our vocation and calling as Christians.
We have been given different gifts and vocations, for instance, teachers, prophets, doctors, politicians, religious, family heads, and others. These all make up one body, whereby Jesus is the head. Therefore, everyone must carry out his or her duty and vocation dutifully and make up a body of Christ. At last, we should be able to tell God that, see God, you gave me this and these are the fruits which I have fruited. God has created us with a specific destiny and mission in mind. Over the years, if our lives do not correspond to that destiny, if we do not develop in the way he intended, or if we do not bring the expected fruit, then our creator will rightly be as disappointed as the person in the parable. God created us, he has given us all we need to thrive, and he greatly cares about what will become of us.
One temptation with the second chances is that sometimes we can take them for granted, and then continue sinning with the hope that God will always forgive us. But let us remember the people in the gospel whose calamities befell, if they were not prepared, they faced God's judgement. Even the fig tree was given only one year. Brethren our time is limited to repent and bear the fruits which God expects of us. God is patient, but for those who persistently and stubbornly rebel against him and refuse to repent and change their course, there is the consequence that they will lose both their soul and body to hell.
God, in his mercy, gives us time to get right with him, but that time is now. We must not assume that there is no hurry. A sudden and unexpected death leaves one no time to prepare to settle one's accounts when he or she must stand before the Lord on the day of judgment. Jesus warns us that we must be ready at all times. Tolerating sinful habits and excusing unrepentant sin and wrongdoing will result in bad fruit, painful discipline, and spiritual disease that leads to death and destruction. The Lord in his mercy gives us both grace (his gracious help and healing) and time to turn away from sin, but that time is right now. If we delay, even for a day, we may discover that grace has passed us by and our time is up.
The last aspect is about Jesus' warning on the urgency to repent. Jesus on several occasions warned the people to turn away from sin before it was too late to repent and receive God's mercy and pardon. Luke recounts two current disasters which Jesus addressed with the people. The first incident occurred in the temple at Jerusalem. Pilate, who was the Roman governor of Jerusalem at the time, ordered his troops to slaughter a group of Galileans who had come up to Jerusalem to offer sacrifice in the Temple. We do not know what these Galileans did to incite Pilate's wrath, nor why Pilate chose to attack them in the holiest of places for the Jews, in their temple at Jerusalem. For the Jews, this was political barbarity and sacrilege at its worst!
The second incident which Jesus addressed was a natural disaster, a tower in Jerusalem which unexpectedly collapsed, killing 18 people. The Jews often associated such calamities and disasters as a consequence of sin. Scripture does warn that sin can result in calamity! Though the righteous fall seven times, and rise again; the wicked are overthrown by calamity (Proverbs 24:16).
We too are not saints than those who sin, are not more worthy than those who die, are not more equal than those who don't even have what to eat, etc. The real danger and calamity which Jesus points out is that an unexpected disaster or a sudden death does not give us time to repent of our sins and to prepare ourselves to meet the Judge of heaven and earth. The Book of Job reminds us that misfortune and calamity can befall both the righteous and the unrighteous alike. Jesus gives a clear warning - take responsibility for your actions and moral choices and put sin to death today before it can destroy your heart, mind, soul, and body as well. Unrepentant sin is like a cancer which corrupts us from within. If it is not eliminated through repentance - asking God for forgiveness and for his healing grace - it leads to a spiritual death which is far worse than physical destruction.
Reflect today on the second chances that have been given to you in your life. Have you made good use of them or you are taking advantage of them to sin the more? Are you bearing the right fruits which God expects you to bear? Pray for the Spirit to always guide us in using well the second chances in our lives.
Let us Pray
My God, you have created me in your image and hence know that I will become the best version of myself when my life yields fruits: fruits of joy, fruits of charity, fruits of holiness. Despite my frequent inadequacies, you do not overwrite my free will but patiently work with me, helping me to convert and grow. Help me to always use my second chances wisely. Amen.
Be blessed
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