Unfold in due time

The greatest sinner. Is there such a person?

At that time some people who were present there told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. 2 He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? 3 By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! 4 Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? 5 By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”

6 And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. [So] cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”-Luke13:1-9

As I read and reflected the Gospel reading, I cannot help but wonder how the people reported and told the story to Jesus. Is it possible that some of them thought that the killed Galileans deserved their death because of their wickedness? Is it possible that some of them thought that God punished the killed Galileans for their acts? If we look on the culture of the Jews during the time of Jesus, they all believed that any misfortune came from God as punishment. Their infidelity, wickedness and abominable acts earned them an exile to Babylon. Sinful parents will have a deformed or sickly child. A sinful person will have sickness like leprosy. But Jesus said, "By no means!" Every person will have his/her fair share of difficulties, pain and misfortune. Tragedy falls both to the rich and poor, good and bad alike. These trials come and will serve its purpose in our life - change, repentance, strength, realization and so forth. God sends trials to serve His purpose for us, however, it is not only through trials that the purpose can be accomplished. We can change through ways like spiritual healing, spiritual counseling, retreats and recollections.

Jesus is saying, "By no means!" are we punished through misfortune, death, tragedy or sickness. There is a call to repentance for all of us. But repentance does not mean evil and difficulties no longer exist. I'll share one experience of mine. I am not a bad sort of person. I am not doing wicked things to others. I have been honest with my transactions. Yet, just 2 days ago, I was a victim of online fraud. Despite not doing any online purchase, somebody got hold of my debit card number and used it to make a payment online in three separate occasions. I would very much want to curse. Instead, I opted to pray for their conversion and change of heart, for I myself and everybody too, are in need of mercy, forgiveness and conversion. Yes, perhaps we are great sinners too in a different degree. Murder, stealing, killing, adultery, gossiping, lust, greed, backbiting, the list continues. But one thing is certain, no matter how great or small, regardless of quantity, a sin will always be a sin.

For me, the gardener represents Jesus and we are the fig tree. The fig tree never bore a single fruit after 3 years of existence. The owner already said, "Cut it down." but the gardener, ever so patient and understanding, suggests another year of existence with cultivation and much fertilizer on the tree. I like this version better because it used this term "...it may bear fruit in the future." For me, I interpreted it as patiently waiting for the fruit for a long time like a maximum of 3 years more.

Whereas in other versions, it is only a year of waiting only. The gardener truly reminded me of God's patience and understanding. God is ever patient in waiting for our return to Him. If it will take 50 tries, He will patiently wait and help us in our 50 attempts to reach Him, or He will never stop reaching out to us even if it meant 50 attempts in His part. God will never say that He is fed up or He had enough already and that He will punish us. No! God patiently waits for our return home to Him through repentance and reconciliation. It is just so unfortunate that our patience is always short. I am reminded of a story of a religious community. Priest1 always asks his brothers what they want to do, what they want to recreate, where they want to have a vacation. But Priest2 is always the killjoy. He doesn't speak much, he goes to his room always, he doesn't mingle, he doesn't recreate with the others, he doesn't join in the fun. As superior, Priest1 secretly dislikes Priest2. Priest1 would always say to himself, "I find Priest2 so mysterious. It's as if I don't know him at all. He pulls down the community. Oh, when will he be transferred!" It was during the time of Psycho-Spiritual Analysis days where there is much emphasis on processing, journal writing and looking into oneself. Because there is much focus on change and conforming to the norm, one thing was forgotten along the way - Understanding.

One day, Priest2 broke from his shell. He announced to all how thankful he was to belong in that community who understands him. He was thankful that the community did not ask for his transfer to another one. He admitted that he was undergoing depression and so much pain and brokenness, and he needs help and support. Priest1 was so ashamed of himself. Here he was, thinking how much of a killjoy and burden Priest2 is, without bothering to know what's going on with him, demanding for change and not bothering to understand him. That's what we are. We want things done in an instant. We want change in an instant. Sometimes we failed to understand and 'see' the person, his/her pacing, what's his/her story, what's his/her life because all we want is conformity to the norm. It's like saying, "If you can't fit it, then you don't belong here."

Priest1 said, "Never say, 'I find you so mysterious' to another person. Rather, we understand that person, his/her uniqueness, his/her individuality, his/her past because one day that person will unfold at the proper time and place." If Jesus patiently waits for our unfolding, so should we to others.

Image courtesy: E. Burnand (Barren Fig Tree), various artists