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Writer's picture Olivia M. Bannan

SATURDAY OF THE TWENTY-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, OCTOBER 26, 2024


Gospel

LK 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. 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? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! 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? By no means!But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”


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.’”


REFLECTION

But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!


What are the consequences of sin? Calamity!! In the medical world, a promiscuous life can result in STD with physical and mental complications. Smoking causes lung cancer. Alcoholism causes delirium tremors, hepatitis, cirrhosis, encephalopathy and cardiomyopathy. Overeating results in obesity related medical problems, diabetes, cardiac disease, strokes and early death. We can enumerate many more, but I think you see the point. Many of the end stage complications are irreversible. We might repent, regret and start a healthier life but many of the complications cannot be reversed.


Jesus warns us of the dangers associated with unrepentant sin. If we are fortunate we go to confession, do our penance and our sins are forgiven. But what if we sin and don't repent? Either we never made it to confession, or death was a consequence of sinning, but when the Lord calls us, the dire consequences of forfeiture of heaven can occur to the righteous and the unrighteous.


Spiritual death and separation from God is the worse that can happen to us. Live as if this very minute you will die. Embrace and thank Jesus for His victory over sin by dying on the Cross and celebrate the Resurrection in heaven.


God bless you.

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