BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD (THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT ON THE GOSPEL)

There was an old man who maintained his subscription to the daily newspaper even though he had virtually stopped reading. His neighbour asked him why he maintained a subscription to a newspaper he never read. This was his reply. "Every morning, before any other thing, I look up the obituary section of the newspaper to see if my name is there. If I don't find my name there, I kneel down and thank God for the gift of another day. That is why I subscribe to the daily newspaper."
Imagine today's gospel as giving us a rare glimpse into the obituary section of a Jerusalem daily newspaper one day in the lifetime of Jesus. That particular day, the story of the dead took up not only the obituary section but the front page headlines as well: "Blood Bath in the Temple, Pilate Slaughters Suspected Galilean Terrorists," "Tower of Siloam Collapses, 18 People Feared Dead." What was the common reaction of the religious people of Jerusalem to such news of human disaster and misfortune? About the Galileans they probably said, "Serves them right. Death to the terrorists!" About those crushed to death they would say, "Well, that is an act of God. God knows why those eighteen deserve to die at this time, in this manner." And they would flip the page for more interesting news, such as the survivor in the previous day's reality show of the amphitheatre gladiators.
The people who broke the news to Jesus conveyed it with the same "serves-them-right" attitude. Jesus could not contain himself in the face of such ignorance and self-justification.

Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them -- do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did. (Luke 13:2-5).

In the face of a natural disaster or personal misfortune befalling other people, it is wrong to suppose that they must have done something to deserve it which those who are free from the disaster did not do. The right disposition is to realise that it could happen to anybody, and that if it does not happen to us at this time, it is because of God's mercy and love and not because of what we deserve.
The Reverend John Bradford (1510-1555) was asked what he though of the criminals who were being led to public execution, and his reply was: "But for the grace of God, there goes John Bradford." We can see the same attitude in our old man who reads the obituary column everyday. He knows that but for the grace of God his name would be there on that page.
The attitude of "but for the grace of God, there go I" helps us make the best of the opportunity God gives us in prolonging our lives from day to day, from week to week, from year to year. We realise that, like the barren fig tree, the extra time has been given to us for a purpose, as a chance to bear fruit. The misfortunes of the less fortunate are not an occasion to stand in judgment over them but an invitation to humble repentance, knowing that "unless you repent, you will all perish just as they" (verse 5). Next time we hear about earthquakes and plane crashes in the news, let us realise that it could happen to anybody, and that if we have been spared such disasters it is so that we might repent and bear fruit worthy of repentance.
Today, let us thank God for the "gardeners" who mediate and intercede for us before God. We know that Jesus is the Great Gardener who intercedes and mediates for us. In practice, however, Jesus fulfills this role through men and women who function as members of Christ's body. The gardeners in our lives, those who have helped us to move from barrenness to fruitfulness, include our parents, teachers, pastors, friends, and even our enemies who have motivated us by their bitter criticism, which more often than not turns out to be true. We thank God for them, we thank God for giving us another opportunity this Lent, and we promise to make the best use of this season of grace to repent more and to bear more fruit in our lives