Jesus calls us to repent. Repentance is at the heart of Lent – a renewal of our invitation to believe in the Good News of the Gospel. It is a call to consideration and prayer, urging us to turn our hearts to God, not just during Lent but every day.
In today’s Gospel, we hear about the fig tree – a valuable tree in hot climates because it requires little water. However, the particular tree described has failed to bear fruit. The question arises: Should it be cut down or should it be given another chance? God is a God of second chances, always patient and merciful, never giving up on His way of love.
As we look at the world today, we see that the image of God is often distorted to serve political agendas. Some claim that God’s concern is only for people of a particular nationality, race or creed. But the truth is, God does not give up on anyone, regardless of who they are.
We are called to repentance and reconciliation, aligning ourselves with the way of God as lived by Jesus in the Gospel. Our role is not to judge but to come together as a community of faith, seeking another chance to live faithfully. We must continually return to the Gospel, recognizing the goodness in so many people – a goodness that can guide our Church communities toward Christ.
We are called to be builders of community, with Jesus as our foundation. Now is our second chance.
Renew us, oh Lord, in love, hope and joy.
Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay
Ronan Barry
