Listen to the gospel lesson and sermon here.
Luke 13:1-9
At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.2 He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem?5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did."6 Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.7 So he said to the gardener, "See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?'8 He replied, "Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it.9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.' "
It seems no matter how often I read this text, I get caught up on Jesus saying, “but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.” Perhaps it’s because he says it twice...or maybe it’s because it’s a bit of a terrifying, out-of-the-ordinary statement from Jesus. Repent or Perish. And to drive his point home he uses the image of a perfectly innocent fig tree, which has a rather fruitless history. And because there is no fruit, which is a metaphor for repentance and a life in God’s will, the master is prepared to cut it down. But the gardner intercedes and advocates for patience. Give it just one more year. Allow the tree to be tended and cultivated..to be properly nourished and nurtured. Surely then we will see fruit. And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'” So the Master yields.
Repent or perish. These are powerful words with dangerous implications. There are whole ideologies in our world, especially in this country who take these words out of the context of the gospel and use them not only to condemn anyone they consider to be unworthy of God’s grace, but they also celebrate tragedies as signs of God’s divine judgment upon sinners. These folks, whom I refuse to give any power to their name, they prey upon victims of serious natural or national tragedies. And I don’t mean prayer as conversation with God. I mean they prey upon them like a lion in the wild, ready to pounce on people’s pain and suffering to amplify their misconstrued theology that bad things happen to you because you are sinful. Repent or perish is there motto. It’s a powerful and scary interpretation of Jesus’ words this day. It’s a dangerous destructive theology. And it’s all the more reason to give these words the time and attention they deserve.
In today’s text Jesus is still en route to Jerusalem. He knowingly continues to the city that will be less than welcoming. In fact they will be hostile and abusive. And all throughout his journey to Jerusalem he never relinquishes from teaching and healing. He never tires in his work for the Kingdom.
Today he encounters some folks who share a tragic story and then ask a very understandable and difficult theological question. They tell Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.” And the question that arises is if these Galileans were sinners, and even more so, were they murdered for their sins. Why did these people die? Jesus references another tragic event, in which some 18 people were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them. Again the question is raised, why did these people die? Were they sinful? Did they die as a result of their sinfulness. Is God issuing some form of divine judgment? And if so, should we be nervous?
These are common ponderings aren’t they? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do earthquakes debilitate 3rd world countries for a generation? Why do hurricanes regularly level coastlines and why do wildfires continue to decimate communities? Why do our children continue to die at gunpoint? Why do soldiers face the destruction of war? Why do buildings fall and bridges break? Why do accidents happen to innocent people? Why are women and children sexually assaulted, and whole populations of people abused and neglected for their uniqueness. Why is cancer so ravenous and destructive? Why do bad things happen to good people? What did they do to deserve this? How did God allow this to happen?
These are the vulnerable pleas of our faith. And today that crowd approaches Jesus on our behalf and raises the question of divine judgment or worse, punishment.
And honestly, these are all truly unfortunate occurrences. The Galileans killed by Pilate and the 18 killed by the tower of Siloam falling. They are sad. But the truth is they are completely independent of anyone’s sin or innocence.
Natural disaster and national tragedies are awful. Truly unfortunate. Things break. Bridges fail. Towers collapse. The earth shakes and the mountains tremble. Oceans rage and fires spread. All terribly sad. But I refuse to believe that any of these tragedies are the result of a victims’ own sins or sinfulness.
Certainly such acts or disaster or tragedy are the result of a sinful person making a sinful decision. We see this all the time, especially with gun violence now-a-days. Pilate killed the Galileans...a sinful act resulting in unfortunate tragedy. But I refuse to believe that God is casting divine judgement as punishment for a victim’s individual or corporate sin.
Being the victim of a tragedy is not punishment for one’s own sin. Nor is it an indication for sinfulness. Despite what the picketers may say. And thank God for that, because if it were so, then we would live our lives in constant fear of divine judgment. We’d constantly be looking over our shoulder. Such tragedies do not teach us about God’s divine judgment or God’s grace. If anything, such tragedies...like Pilate murdering the Galileans or the tower falling on 18 innocent bystanders..the teach us of the frailty of life.
And tragedies make life short. Eighteen people died when a tower fell on them. These folks were no worse than anyone else. It was a random occurrence, and honestly any of us can be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and become the victim of an accident or tragedy. This is the kind of fear the crowds laid before Jesus in this morning’s text.
So what do we make of Jesus saying “but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.”
At first glance, it seems that Jesus is placing repentance at odds with perishing as divine judgement. Suggesting that these are your only two choices, and we must decide now. And to not repent means perishing for sinful behaviour. So choose wisely. No, I suspect Jesus is being a bit more rich than that, in light of the crowds concern with recent tragedy and accident.
Perapas, rather than interpret Jesus as offering an ultimatum, Jesus is acknowledging that life is short. Tragedy and accidents can make life short. Too short and too unpredictable in fact, to live an unrepentant life. And for us to think that human suffering is a result of divine punishment for sinfulness...that’s too easy. Too simple. So, Repent, Jesus says, because life is too short, and it’d be truly unfortunate to die or perish unrepentant. Seems like a relevant message for the season of Lent, doesn’t it?
This is why we begin Lent with Ash Wed….a humble and vulnerable proclamation that life can be short. That we will all die one day. And from dust and dust, we proclaim and worship a God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. God is patient and persistent. Like a patient, passionate gardner...abiding to the fig tree as long as needed.
And the good news is that repentance is less about finding ourselves or working to become a better person as it is about being found by God. Acknowledging God’s gift of a life and grace. Accepting God’s relentless pursuit of God’s children...regardless of sin or innocence. Repentance isn’t a measure of human ability or achievement. Repentance is a the full acceptance of God’s abundance. God’s patient and love-filled pursuit.
And the truth is, we run. We love to run and resist the abundant love of a patient and passionate God. And so repentance is to be found. To be found by a persistent God who never relinquished love. To be found and loved. To be forgiven by grace. Repentance is to acknowledge God finding us, and turn around...with our whole hearts in worship and praise.
This is the power of a more abundant theology. Repent or perish isn’t an explanation for tragedy or accident as divine judgement or punishment. Rather, repent or perish is to acknowledge that frailty of life….A life rich with God’s love, and to perish is to deny, ignore, abandon, dismiss, or take for granted that love. To perish is to live in absence or ignorance of God’s love. And Jesus deeply desires and longs that no one perish.
This brings us back to Lent. A season dedicated to self assessment and discernment. For a mere 40 days we identify, name, and turn away from the parts of our life that cause us to perish...to disrupt, dismiss, or destroy our relationship of God. Our time in Lent is an intentional commitment to being found.
And when are found, again and again, God, who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, offers us nourishment and nutrient. God empowers us with love, and waters us with grace. So that we may grow to bear good fruit. Fruit of a God’s gracious love. Fruit of repentance. Fruit that boasts to the world of a God who creates, nourishes, and nurtures...not punishes and destroys. A God who is compassionate and forgiving, not vengeful and vindictive. A who God who is empowering and affirming. Abiding and abundant. A God who allows no one to perish.
Amen.
© Pastor Daniel Locke, Preached March 24, 2019 @ St. Mark's Lutheran, Jacksonville, FL
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