February 28,
2013 Daniel
Daring Daniel's
previous reflections
Second chance –
Third Sunday of Lent
Exodus
3:1-8, 13-15; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9
Ari Schonburn, 49, was late for work on Sept. 11, 2001, because he was helping his 8-year-old son to complete a book order. So when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the north tower, he – instead of being in his office on the 101st floor – was changing elevators on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center. There he met his wounded co-worker, Virginia Dichiara. He helped her down 78 stairs and walked her out to an ambulance. To his surprise, Virginia insisted that he would accompany her to the hospital. None of his colleagues, being on time for work in the office on 101st floor, had survived (based on M. Wolk, “From the ashes of 9/11, religious inspiration,” MSNBC, Sept. 8, 2006).
The world abounds with such stories of a miraculous survival. Taking them lightly, one could draw a conclusion that it is better to be late for work than to be on time. Taking them seriously, one is puzzled and asks Jesus’ question: Were those who died worse sinners than all those who survived? (Luke 13:2.4)
Repent or Perish
One catechetical truth we are very familiar with, states that God punishes evil and rewards goodness. Somehow, we translated this truth into our daily life and came out with a strange conclusion that every calamity, disaster, or tragedy is God’s punishment for our sins. And it is very difficult to challenge this concluding statement, because we know that we are not innocent. Jesus questions this assumption by recalling two incidents: a political killing done by the governor of Judea, Pilate, and a tragedy of innocent people who died under a collapsed tower in Siloam (Luke 13:1-4). It seems that God had nothing to do with those tragedies; for sure, they cannot be interpreted as God’s punishment. Do we really think that those people who died in natural disasters, accidents, or were killed by sword or gun, are worse than those who escaped? Jesus’ answer to this question is, no! So, if it is not God’s punishment, what is it, then?
Faced with human tragedies of our loved ones, friends, and even people unknown to us, we should be able to learn an existential lesson. Whether during the time of Jesus or today, life is fragile. No matter how hard we try, we cannot protect ourselves and those we love from every danger, be it accident, crime, violence, psychological disorder, or fatal sickness. It is this awareness of life’s precariousness that should lead to our repentance, namely into changing the way we live our lives. Jesus’ harsh words - repent or perish (Luke 13:3.5) – are a call to reorganize our priorities in life in view of the inescapable reality of death. Schonburn admits that before 9/11 he did not have much time for his family. Work was his excuse to escape children’s graduation or other family celebrations. The experience of 9/11 made him into a father who is able to find time to spend with his children.
Another year of life
Setting us free from associating calamity and disaster with God’s punishment, Jesus challenges us with a parable of a fig tree that does not yield fruit. We are all familiar with the bestselling book of Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life. The success of this book seems to indicate that our lives are not purpose driven. We seems to be confused when it comes to organizing our lives. And yet, it is not difficult to decide how to live when there is a sense of urgency, when we are faced, like the fig tree, with a choice: either bearing fruit or perishing.
How would you live if you had only a year left? The elderly and those diagnosed with terminal illnesses usually do not regret the things they have done; they mostly regret things they have not done: missed opportunities and chances. Erma Bombeck, after learning that she was dying with cancer, wrote a poem titled, If I had My Life to Live Over. In her poem you will find these lines: “I would have talked less and listened more. . . . I would have invited friends over to dinner . . . . I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching real life. . . . But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it and really see it, live it and never give it back.”
And 85-year-old Nadine Stair says: “I’ve been one of those people who never go anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water battle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had it to do again, I would travel lighter next time” (J. Canfield and M.V. Hansen.1999. Chicken Soup for the Soul).
At the beginning of His mission, Jesus announced the Year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:19). In the parable of the fruitless fig tree, the gardener pleads with the owner for an additional year to be given to the tree (Luke 13:8). This additional year symbolizes the time of God’s mercy and forgiveness; it is the time of second chances, the time in which we can make up for the wrongs done and opportunities missed.
Conclusion
Anthony de Mello, the famous Jesuit spiritual master, in his spiritual exercises included one meditation, called Your Funeral. He asks to imagine our own bodies in the coffin laid out in a church for the funeral rites. Then he asks to look at the people who came to attend our funeral. Next he suggests to listen to an imaginary sermon of a priest: what does he say about us? How do we feel about it? Then we should look at the faces of our loved ones and friends and listen to their conversation about us: Is there anything you and I would like to tell them which we had never told them before? Finally, let us look at our life: was it worthwhile? (adopted from A. de Mello. 1978. Sadhana: A Way to God).
We
are still alive. It is not yet our funeral rite. God is offering us a year of
His favor, a second chance in which we can still make up for the wrongs and
seize the opportunities that life still has to offer. Look around; see the faces
of the people you meet everyday. Think of what you can do for them. It is never
too late to bear the fruits of repentance.
It is true that life is fragile and we do not know the day and the hour. Yet we
can turn it into something priceless and live each day in such a way that, at
the end, we will not regret having missed chances of doing good and losing
opportunities of caring for others.