2025/03/23 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Third Sunday of Lent
- Dominic Reyes, Assistant Manager of Events & Ministry Engagement
Forgiveness, as a concept, has proven to be one of the hardest things humans can do and process. Resentment and pain blind us to even seeing forgiveness as a way of healing. We are so prone to holding grudges; holding onto words and actions that question and demean us as individuals. It is easy to continue clenching onto the past actions of those who hurt us, completely disregarding our enemies and seeing them as nothing but their sins against us. All of this, culminating into things that stoop us lower than what were intended to do: which is to build and grow the kingdom of God.
While forgiveness comes hard for us, God seeks for us to repent so that He may show us His mercy. In today’s Gospel, Jesus starts off by telling us that although we all commit sins on varying levels, most importantly we, collectively, are sinners and must repent. As Jesus points out about the Galileans in the massacre and the people who died from the tower at Siloam falling, it does not matter what sin is committed. We are sinners and we must seek God’s mercy to bear fruit.
This is further explained through today’s parable: the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree. As it goes, the owner of an orchard planted a fig tree that did not produce fruit for three years. He tells his gardener to cut it down so that the soil can be used for other plants. However, the gardener tells the owner to keep the tree up for at least another year so that it may bear fruit in the future. However, if it does not bear fruit within the year, it was to be cut down.
The owner of the orchard represents God as He planted each one of us like fig trees within his plentiful garden. He tends to us by providing us the world, constantly checking to see if we bear fruit and cultivate His kingdom. It is up to us on whether we choose to grow and bear that fruit. God’s mercy is limitless, however not His patience. God waits for us every day, hour, and second for us to turn to Him for forgiveness. Jesus, the gardener within the parable, shows grace to us by continuously providing His love and mercy for the chance that we choose to seek his mercy and compassion.
Within the season of Lent, let us be reminded of God’s mercy and compassion. Let us finally see the rich soil around us and use the gifts that God provides for us. Let us turn to His love and mercy and cultivate the fruit that He knows we can provide for His ever growing kingdom.