In today\u2019s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a fig tree. The master of the vineyard, seeing that his fig tree is not producing fruit, desires to cut it down. He therefore orders his servant, \u201clo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down\u201d (Luke 13:7). His servant, however, protests, \u201clet it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down\u201d (Luke 13:8-9). The master is ready to pronounce final judgment on the fig tree. He wants to cut the tree down and replace it with another tree – a tree that is fruitful. The servant, however, intercedes for the tree. The tree might not yet be fruitful, but perhaps with proper care the tree will be fruitful within the year. The master relents. If the tree is fruitful, it can remain – if not, it will be cut down.<\/p>\n
According to the Fathers of the Church, the fig tree represents humanity. Three times God has approached humanity: once in paradise, once under the law and now continually under grace. These three times correspond to the three years that the master has come seeking fruit. Each subsequent visit brings us closer to the final day of judgment. In order to not be cut down, we must bear fruit. But how does one bear fruit? Jesus answers this question in verse three: \u201cunless you repent you will all likewise perish\u201d (Luke 13:3). Repentance, then, is the first fruit we must bear in our soul. But why must we repent?<\/p>\n
We must all repent because we are all sinners. All, except our Lord and his Blessed Mother, have sinned. All, even our Blessed Mother, require God\u2019s grace. Repentance, then, prepares our hearts to receive God\u2019s grace by softening the soil of our heart. This soil, then, is fortified by manure – which is the remembrance of and contrition for our sins. Though our sins be filth, God can use them to bring us to repentance.<\/p>\n
During this season of Lent, let us remember that God is calling all of us, without exception, to repentance. Let us confess our sins. Let us admit our faults. For it is through repentance that the fruit of eternal life begins to blossom in our souls.<\/p>\n
Ian Mahood<\/strong> – St. Joseph Seminary, Edmonton, Alberta<\/p>\n Fot.\u00a0Pedro Lima\/Unsplash.com<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Third Sunday of Lent<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2005,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,17,18],"tags":[139,182,111],"class_list":["post-2004","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-strona-glowna-najnowsze","category-strona-glowna-slider","tag-ian_mahood","tag-iii-sunday-of-lent","tag-lent"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n