Into Extra Time - A Reflection on Luke 13:1-9

At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “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.”

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

 

I remember a few years ago a friend of mine came to meet me after his mother had died. He said she was very far from God, she led a dissolute life, and he was very worried that she wouldn’t make it to heaven. I felt very distressed in my soul. I wanted to shake him by the collar and ask him what he did all these years that she was with him. Did he speak to her about Jesus? Did he try to get her to accept Christ? When we have the chance to do things we don’t; then we regret wasted opportunities. 

 

 We spoke about the Second Coming yesterday, and opportunities given to us to repent, but what happens if we were to suddenly die. That’s the end of opportunities, yeah? Jesus warns about this in today’s reading, then goes on to tell a parable about a fig tree. The tree is about to be cut because it is bearing no fruit. The owner has been extremely patient, returning year after year in the hope of finding fruit but finally tiring of it, he orders, “Cut it down. Why should it be wasting the soil?” 

 

The gardener pleads for another chance—another opportunity—to save the tree. Who is the gardener? We get a clue from Scripture in the stories of Abraham and Moses who pleaded with God to show mercy upon his people (see Genesis 18, Exodus 32:9-10,11,14). The “gardener” is the intercessor, but more than that: it is the LEADER as intercessor. This means our pastors, our priests; Christian leaders who are responsible for their flock in the Church today. Or, to stick to Jesus’ analogy, the trees in their care. That’s us.

 

The trees, of course, need to bear fruit. They will be held accountable, as is made clear in the first half of this passage. But the gardeners are the ones will really be held accountable. The problem is that most gardeners are expending energy in putting fences around their vineyards, instead of ensuring the trees in them are bearing fruit. God is calling the gardeners to task today, warning them that if they don’t show fruit, he is going to put John’s axe to use. 

 

What axe is this? John the Baptist had warned about how the axe was lying at the root of the trees. “Every tree,” he said,” that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (see Matthew 3:7-10). With rare exception, churches are closing in every country in the world and priests are being put out to pasture. What is the solution? We repent, like the elders of old did, admitting our failures; then pleading with the landowner (that’s God) for some extra time in which we can rectify what’s wrong.

 

Although there is a good chance we may already be into extra time now. So let's take heed and do the best we can while we still can.

Watch a video of this reflection by Aneel Aranha here: https://youtu.be/sFUYbpcdeX4