‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did’ (Lk 13:1).
In olden days people believed that suffering was a punishment that God reserved for sinners. So when calamity struck a man, a community, or nation, the first response was that they indeed deserved it. But in the gospels we see Jesus trying to correct this misconception. It was when he was told about an incident where Pilate mingled the blood of certain Galileans with their sacrifices. Understandably, the immediate response from the community was blaming the suffering on the sins of the victims.
But Jesus knew that the suffering of those hapless men were equally a warning to those who were spared of the suffering. They too could be given a cup of similar suffering, unless they repent.
So, every calamity, every natural disaster, every war, every famine, every pandemic that happens anywhere in the world is a stark reminder of those poor Galileans whose suffering was attributed to their sins. They could be sinners, but we are no saints to blame them. They went through a difficult phase of their life. But never think that we are exempted from it. Thank God that we are spared from it for the time being. The punishment could visit us anytime and the one and only way to survive is repentance.
So every calamity and human suffering associated with it is an invitation to repent. This invitation is addressed not only to the victims alone, but to the survivors and onlookers as well. This call to repentance is the essence of gospels, for Jesus commenced his public ministry proclaiming, ’Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near’ (Mt 4:18).
When we see devastation coming near our doors in this world, it is time to turn our eyes from it and look at the Lord who has taught us that repentance is the key to open the doors to another world, the kingdom of heaven.
While baptizing the people with water for repentance John told about Jesus who would follow him to give baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire (Mt 3:11). Elsewhere we see Jesus reasserting his mission in these words; ‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled’ (Lk 12:49). He has brought the fire of repentance to us so as to cleanse ourselves from our sins. Let us keep this fire kindled within us at all times and remind ourselves that we are no better Galileans than those who suffered at the hands of Pilate.
