Gospel

From the Gospel according to Luke13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileanswhose 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 waythey 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 killedwhen the tower at Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guiltythan 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 treebut 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.’”

The Gospel of the Lord

The Lord’s Patience

In this Gospel, we see some people coming to tell Jesus what others, in their opinion, have done wrong. It’s quite likely that, deep in their hearts, they’ve already judged and condemned them. This scene might feel familiar to us. How many times have I gone to Jesus —almost in an accusatory tone— to tell Him about the pain I feel because of something my spouse has done? To point out what, in my view, they’ve done wrong?

But Jesus doesn’t linger on the accusation. Instead, He uses the moment to challenge us with a powerful question: Do you think your spouse is more sinful than you? Do you believe you’re better simply because you haven’t fallen into the same sin? And then He tells us: You are not —so repent, or you too will perish.

At first, His words may sound harsh. Yet the Lord invites us to conversion with infinite patience. Even though He knows that, because of our lukewarmness, our comfort, or our selfishness —for whatever reason— we may have gone a long time without bearing the fruit He expects, He never gives up on us. He always wants to give us another chance, just like the fig tree in the parable.

His hope is placed in us; He never counts us as lost. That’s why Jesus asks the Father to grant our marriage another opportunity. If He hasn’t given up on my marriage or on my spouse, how could I? No, Lord. I want to work with You so that our marriage may bear abundant fruit.

Applied to Marriaged Life :

Victor: Why does everything have to be so difficult, Martha?
Martha: What do you mean, Victor?
Victor: I mean, even though we go to Mass almost every day now, and we pray together regularly, life doesn’t seem any easier. In fact, it feels like things keep getting harder. Now the kids complain that we spend less time with them.
Martha: Well, Jesus never said life would be easier —at least not from a human perspective. Remember, He said He didn’t come to bring peace but division. And He told us we’d only be worthy of Him if we carried our daily cross.
Victor:Yes, that’s true… but still, wouldn’t it help if external things went a little smoother?
Martha: Are you sure about that? During my prayer today, something struck me in the parable of the barren fig tree. The Lord says that to see if it will bear fruit, He’ll dig around it and spread  fertilizer-not flowers or something beautiful, but fertilizer.
Victor: And? I’m not sure what you’re getting at.
Martha: Think about it —to make the tree bear fruit, He doesn’t put flowers or pretty decorations around it. He uses fertilizer—something that smells bad, something unpleasant, but rich in nutrients. It made me realize that, in our marriage, the “fertilizer” God gives us often comes in the form of trials and difficulties. Because it’s through them that our love grows stronger. We don’t grow when everything’s easy; we grow when we face challenges together and overcome them side by side.
Victor: I see now —the fertilizer represents all the things we dislike, but that the Lord allows so we can strengthen our marriage.
Martha: Exactly.
Victoe: Thank you, Martha, for helping me see how much the Lord loves us —even when He sends us trials. I love you.
Martha: Thanks be to God, who helps us grow in love. I love you even more.

Mother,

teach us to recognize God’s will even in our difficulties. Help us trust that He is a loving Father who always sends what is best for us —even when we don’t understand it. And like you, may we always say “yes” to His will.

Blessed and glorious are you, Mother! Praised be the Lord forever!