In 1931 China experienced a series of devastating floods that led to an estimated 2 million people dead from drowning, disease and starvation. In 2004 a 9.3 level earthquake struck in the Indian Ocean near Sumatra. The resulting tsunamis ravaged countries around the coasts killing over 220,000 people. Beginning in the late 1970s a viral disease, eventually named Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), would lead to the death of 36 million people (through 2020) worldwide. The disease was found to spread through sexual contact (both homo and heterosexual), intravenous needle use, receipt of tainted blood products and from mother to child during pregnancy. From 1975 to 1979 1.3 million Cambodians were executed under the leadership of the Khmer Rouge and dictator Pol Pot with many buried in mass graves giving rise to the genocide being called the “Killing Fields”. The communist government of Cambodia had the goal of converting the country to a purely agrarian society and eliminated individuals not conforming to this ideal.
These examples are obviously just a sample of the countless disasters resulting in loss of life the world has seen over the millennia. Disasters like these can result from nature, they can be man-made or infectious in origin. The point of this reflection will not focus on why these losses of life occur. Each terrible event can be debated as to the role of politics, global weather patterns, personal choices and, ultimately, God’s place in it all. I will not attempt to claim that I have all the answers as to why these things occur. And, in that regard, I am in good company as seen in today’s Gospel reading from Luke.
Jesus is making commentary on two apparently recent tragedies that had occurred around Jerusalem. One was brought on by Pilate when he had taken the blood of murdered Galileans and mixed them with the blood of sacrifices. In addition was the story of a tower, associated with the walls around the city, that collapsed and buried 18 people. Nowhere in the reading does Jesus try to place a reason why these events occurred or place blame. That was not the purpose of this exchange.
We can get an idea of where Jesus was headed with these examples by looking at the parable immediately following the conversation about Pilate’s slaughter and the tower falling. In this story Jesus tells of the vineyard owner inspecting his orchard and finds a fig tree that has not produced fruit for three years. He tells his gardener to cut it down but the gardener convinces the owner to allow him one more year of care and if after that year the tree still does not produce, it will be cut down.
Our saint for today is St. John of Capistrano. He lived during the late 14th and early 15th centuries in Italy at a time when Italian city-states fought each other constantly. It was also the time when the bubonic plague was ravaging Europe and France was at war with England. The Church was also in turmoil as it was experiencing Schism with the east. St. John fought in the military for his region of Perugia and was imprisoned at the age of 30. During this time he evaluated his life and came to the conclusion that he was headed in the wrong direction. He entered the Franciscan order and was ordained a priest. He was instrumental in the reunification of the Church, the revival of the Franciscans and a turnaround in the general apathy towards the faith.
Jesus asked the question in the reading, were these people greater sinners because of their means of death? “By No Means!” Does the greater the disaster mean the greater the sin? “By No Means!” What do these disasters, the parable of the fig tree and St. John have in common? Time! The people sacrificed by Pilate, those crushed by the tower of Siloam, the victims of earthquakes and genocide. Most had no idea that this would be their last day on earth. Their time came suddenly and without warning. The axe was placed at the root of the fig tree suddenly one morning ending it opportunity to produce good fruit.
We are all given the gift of time. Some of us get longer than others. And how do we use this gift? Paul talks to us in the first reading from Romans that we can live according to the flesh or we can live according to the spirit. Living according to the flesh means to focus on the body and, as a result, a greater focus on things of the world. We see ourselves as ultimately being in control of our own destiny and the anxiety and worry that comes along with it leading us further from God. Living in the Spirit means living for God and for each other leaving destiny in God’s hands. Our job is to be ready every day for the eventuality of our lives ending in one way or another. The greatest sin is not the manner of death but it is still being in denial of the reality of God when death finally overtakes us. Either in some disaster or after our bodies slowly failing after a long life.
A common question we hear asked of people is, “If you knew that this was your last day on earth, how would you live your life?” I think the proper answer for people of faith is that I would hope to live this last day as I lived yesterday. That each day is directed to God and each other. And when the time comes, we will be ready to meet our Creator. We talked last week of the unforgivable sin of denying the Holy Spirit. May we never deny the hope of forgiveness that our God offers us every day. May we accept that offer and reject the lie that any of us is unforgiveable. God is waiting for us to turn to Him. Don’t let it be too late.
I also wanted to thank our readers for the wonderful wishes of good health and prayers for my recovery from COVID. I am glad to say that I have recovered completely and back to good health. Thank you again for the encouragement. I am very glad to have this community.
