During Jesus’ time, the Jews associated suffering with the person’s sinfulness.
But we heard in today’s Gospel, Jesus said: But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!
While the traditional practice of “giving up something” for Lent or doing acts of penance like fasting and almsgiving are important and praiseworthy, the Lord actually calls us to metanoia – from two Greek words: Meta, meaning beyond ; and Noeo (no e o), meaning to perceive, to think, to understand, to know.
So, the word metanoia means going beyond the mind you now have.
It is a word that describes a transformation of consciousness, a new way of thinking, a new way of seeing… conversion of mind and heart.
In St. Paul’s letter to the Romans (12:2): “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Unfortunately, when the word metanoia was translated from Greek into Latin and into English, the word metanoia was translated to simply “To Repent or To Do Penance” for lack of better word and that is a significant shift in the meaning.
And so – what was originally the call for inner transformation is reduced into feeling sorry for doing something bad or doing act of penance – although they are important – but they must flow from a transformed consciousness… from a changed heart and mind. Doing penance or giving up something for Lent must never become a substitute for a transformed consciousness – conversion.
The word “repent” actually does not do justice to what Jesus actually intended which is far more demanding.
So – on that note: Again – As we heard in the Gospel: Jesus said: But I tell you, if you do not metanoia, you will all perish as they did! And then Jesus told the parable of the barren fig tree.
The purpose of the fig tree is to produce figs. Similarly, you and I are in this world for a reason, a purpose. We have been placed here to produce some positive good.
And - When we fail to do that, we are guilty of sin just as if we had done something bad.
When we hear the word sin and repentance, to most of us, we think of the bad or evil things that should not have been done.
But, our Gospel reading today reminds us that we need to broaden and deepen our understanding of what sin is and what we need to repent of….because sin is also the failure to do that which ought to be done…. Sin is not only something bad that we do, it is also something good that we fail to do. That is the kind of sin we often overlook.
In the letter of St. James: “So, for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin.” (James 4:17)
Jesus said essentially the same thing in his parable of the judgment: “Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' (Matthew 25:31-46).
Remember also the parable - Jesus told - about a man traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho. Along the way he was beaten and robbed. Jesus told that story, not so much to criticize the crime but as to criticize the indifference of the two religious – church going people – who just passed by him and did nothing to help.
Yes, we must repent and confess of the bad things we had done and resolve not to do them again. We should repent and stop lying, cheating, stealing, gossiping, speaking profanity and so on. But we must not stop there.
Our repentance must also include repentance for failing to do good.
In the story of fig tree, Jesus is basically saying that we are going to be held accountable and unless we repent of our indifference and idleness, we will wither and perish.
Everyone of us has gifts from God that we can use in His service – time, talent, treasure, knowledge of truth. We may not all be wealthy, but none of us is so poor that we have nothing to share. The point is – we must learn to care; to become giving, loving, sharing people. When Jesus talked about fruitful living, He did not mean only in terms of big and impressive things.
… in fact – Mark 9:41 “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.”
Wickedness is not always in terms of those obvious or seen in the open. Wickedness or being bad could be the neglect of simple kindness.
We live in America, country flowing with milk and honey, so to speak, the land of opportunity and in one form or another, each one of us has been given the privilege (blessed either in terms of money, good home, good education, freedom, healthy body and sound mind….) And we all need to hear the warning of Jesus.
Being privileged or being blessed carries with it a great responsibility… That is the message of today’s Gospel reading. “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (Luke 12:48).
So, do not be arrogant and do not look down on others who do not seem to be as blessed as you are.
We should always be grateful and be humble about our good fortune.
People say: “I live a clean life… I am not hurting anyone… I pay my taxes, follow rules and regulations… I mind my own business…” Well, that is nice… but the problem is you might not be doing anything good also for anyone”…. sin of uselessness. It is not enough for you and me to be nice and clean and – with no bad record. We must also be good for something…
In the second reading, St. Paul tells the Corinthians, "Whoever thinks he is standing secure, watch out lest you fall down." Meaning – St. Paul warns us against spiritual overconfidence.
The truth is simple: we must fight evil and do good, repent and bear fruit as the gospel says, or we will also suffer eternal perish.
Like the Eucharist – the Body of Christ, our lives must be blessed, broken and shared… like the Blood of Christ – we must be willing to be poured out into loving service of God and others.
Jesus is challenging our hearts and minds to shake up the way we live… metanoia… conversion…
The Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard once wrote: “Ultimately, there is only one sin, and that is the steadfast refusal to be one’s own true self.” Meaning…failing to be who and what we are meant to be by God… and this failure is expressed in doing what we are not supposed to do and not doing what we are supposed to do.
In other words, sin is not simply breaking rules and laws. Sin is failing to be who God created us to be. Sinning means I am failing to be the real me, the true me, the authentic me. Sin is whatever keeps you and me from being who and what God created us to be.
- the behavior or acts or failure to act or failure to do good are actually just outward expressions of what is in a person’s heart – his being.
St. Catherine of Siena – our patron saint – said: "If you are what you should be, you will set the world on fire!"
Imagine, just imagine, what the world would be like if only the so-called Christians are what they are called to be.”
Imagine – as a start - what our parish would be like – what our local community would be like - if only we truly believe the Gospel; if only we really truly live out or actually practice our faith.
