Today’s scripture: Luke 13: 6-9 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (John Seskay):
One of the most repeated themes in literature is the story of a second chance, a seemingly lost opportunity that is restored to life. There is something so uplifting and optimistic about it! For many of us, that is how we would define grace. We may have dropped the ball, but the game isn’t over!
The mood of the text leading up to this parable is quite dark. Evil things are happening which the Jews fear as signs of God’s wrath. Buildings have collapsed on seemingly innocent bystanders. Romans have killed people who were in the temple to make sacrifices to God according to the law. If a person isn’t safe when conducting these holy and pious duties, when can he/she feel safe? What does it all mean? How do we escape this situation?
I often see a common assumption at work, even in me. If I live my life right, I will be spared grief, trouble, and uncertainty by a loving God. That’s the deal, isn’t it?
But Jesus turns the tables on that point of view. He points out that the purpose of planting a fruit tree is to harvest fruit from it. Whether the growing season was good or poor, the owner of the tree expects some return. Like that tree, the expectation is that we will always strive to do what is right, regardless of the circumstances around us. Life itself, in all conditions, is a continuous opportunity to do something good, even something sacred, in some fashion. The real goal I should be focusing on is to bear the fruit of God expressed within me.
When I read through the passage and the parable, I am reminded of a song by Tim McGraw. It is entitled “Live Like You Were Dying”. It’s about a man who has not gotten around to doing a lot of things he should or could do because it wasn’t important enough to him today. He was perfectly willing to push things off into the future to make today easy on himself. But a visit to the doctor tells him he has a lot less future than he thought! Of course, he immediately sets to doing what he should have been doing all along. This is a very human response, and aims at the same point as today’s parable.
Thought for the day: Am I living today like the gift it really is?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.