San Galdino por Ermes Dovico

GOSPEL PEARLS

Preparing for God’s judgement

Until I dig around it and put on manure. (Luke 13: 8)

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” (Luke 13: 1-9)

By way of our daily choices, even the most trivial ones, we decide whether to love God or to love His creation. If we choose to love creation, then we are elevating it to idolatry, even when it is incapable of giving us the true and full happiness our hearts seek. As Jesus lovingly advises us, it is good to keep our souls well "fertilised" at all times, so as not to be unprepared when our souls must appear before God after our death. If you were to die today, would you be prepared to face God's judgement?