Repent

Jesus speaks to the crowd about two shocking incidents. A group of worshippers have been slaughtered by Pilate’s troops while offering sacrifice to God; and a tower has collapsed and killed eighteen people. It was commonplace in Jesus’ time to believe that such misfortunes were God’s punishment for sin, but Jesus rejects that idea. His Father is a loving God, who desires that every one of his children should live and flourish. But in our fallen world, life is fragile. We do not know the day or the hour when God will call us out of this world. And so Jesus uses these examples to teach the people to repent. Repentance is a change of heart and mind – a turning back to God – a reorientation of our whole lives. Repentance brings fruits of faith, hope and love. The season of Lent is a time for repentance. As in the parable of the unfruitful fig tree, God gives us the opportunity to repent and be fruitful. Now is the time.

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