God called Moses and appointed him leader of Israel out of Egypt. God revealed himself to Moses: "I am who I am" (Exo.3:14) Which implies that Yahweh is none other than one, the only God. Moses of course abandoned his own plans and accepted the Lord's proposal to return to Egypt and liberate his people.
Jesus in the gospel today makes us to understand that the misfortune that brings suffering cannot be understood exclusively as a punishment for personal sins. Jesus declares: "No; but unless you repent you will all perish likewise" (Luke 13:3). It means that if we repent we shall not perish. Repentance means turning away from sin and turning to God - conversion. Turning to God requires recollection and concentration.
A repentant soul bears fruit (parable of the fig tree). Christ, the vinedresser, wants to make our souls fruitful so that we can bear the fruits he expects from us. In this parable, we see God's limitless patience and God's large heart.
Let us remember that, like the fig tree we too have been carefully nurtured by God. To sin is to fail to bear fruit. God is waiting patiently for our fruits of good work.
We can repent of our sins at any time during the year. But Lent is a privileged season for repentance. Everything about Lent speaks of repentance and forgiveness. Let us take full advantage of this season while it lasts and repent, so that we do not perish.
May God be patient with us and give us the grace to respond to His invitation to repent and be saved through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Happy Sunday.
Rev Fr Dzungwe Simon Peter Sc.
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