REPENT OR PERISH

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‘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.

 

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