Manure

 

Luke 13:1-9 is the Gospel Lectionary text for Lent III  

 Some Galileans were slain by Pilate while sacrificing in the Temple.  That would be big news under a people oppressed by a horrendously vicious force.  Jesus also pointed out that eighteen died when a tower fell on them.  He used this to talk about sin.  First, Jesus pointed out that they were no worse sinners than the people bringing this to Him.  I believe there is also a lesson here in quelling the idea that God pulls strings or pushes buttons to make things happen to specific people in the world.  Jesus used it as an opportunity to call them to repent, pointing out that it could happen to them, for those referred to perished suddenly and unexpectedly, particularly without being ready or perhaps right with God.  And, as is frequently true in the Gospels, Jesus told a parable to underscore the message.

 This is the manure story.  A fig tree did not produce for three years, and the owner wanted it cut down.  The gardener convinced him to dig around it, put manure on it and see if it produced the following year, before cutting it down.

 God gives us every opportunity for growth and to produce good fruit in the world.  If we are not producing good fruit in the world around us, we are not doing what God has planted us here to do.  It would seem that God may be of two minds here.  On the one hand, the vineyard owner wants good fruit to be produced and when it is not, he is ready to cut down the tree.  On the other hand, the gardener (Jesus?  The Holy Spirit?  Abraham with God over Sodom and Gomorrah?) says, “Let me work on this a little bit and give it some time, and maybe it will come around.  If not, then cut it down.”

 The point is repentance.  Now is the time for repentance.  Life is short and things happen to us.  Life is finite, and we do not know how long we have.  We can see that as a threat if we want, that perhaps we will either intentionally be killed or accidently die, and that we have no control over that. We need to see that we need to be right with God because of that, or we can see it as an opportunity to do the right thing here and now.  We need to work at it, do what it takes and change our thinking and direction.

 As an individual, I need to be mindful of my sinfulness and repent of those things that cause harm to my sisters and brothers in the world, because they cause harm to my relationship with God.

 As the church, we need to be mindful of our sinfulness and repent of those things that cause harm to our sisters and brothers in the world, because they cause harm to our relationship with God.

 As a nation, we need to be mindful of our sinfulness and repent of those things that cause harm to our sisters and brothers in the world, because they cause harm to our relationship with God.

 As a world, we need to be mindful of our sinfulness and repent of those things that cause harm to our sisters and brothers in the world, because they cause harm to our relationship with God.

 Right now.

Our time may be short.  We do not know how long we have on this planet.

We do not know how long the planet has.

All we have is right now, so we need to repent – change our thinking so that our direction changes to be in alignment with God’s Will.  We need to stop doing those things that hurt the creation of God and the people of God right now.

Each of us, all of us.

Now.