Tragedies Abound: It's Time For Repentance!

 Sermon by Rev. John Paul Shea

3rd Sunday of Lent, Feb. 28, 2016

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Tucson, AZ

Repentance, repentance, repentance! 

In today’s Gospel (Luke 13:1-9) for this Third Sunday of Lent, we are given a clear and forceful call to repentance. 

In Jesus time, the Tower of Siloam

killed 18 people

In today’s Gospel, some people come to Our Lord Jesus to speak about a tragic situation. Some Galileans suffered at the hands of Pilate. In coming to Jesus with this situation, they were most likely seeking justice. Yet, Our Lord does not go along with this assessment. He uses this example to make a very important point -- the need for repentance.

“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” Our Lord said.

And then He speaks of 18 people who were killed when a tower fell upon them. “Do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”

My brothers and sisters, Our Lord’s message is one that all of us need to take to heart every day of our lives.

We live in a fallen world. We experience

tragedies and suffering. We often do not know why some people suffer more than others or why God allows tragedies to take place, but today’s Gospel calls us to what is most important, that we need to be prepared for whatever may come in our lives and in our world by repenting of  our sins! For none of us know when our lives are going to end. Neither do we know when the tragedies of our  world will finally take its toll. 

In today’s second reading (1Cor 10: 1-12), Saint Paul teaches us to learn from what has taken place in the past. He uses the example of the Israelites. God had called the Israelites to be His chosen people. He called them to follow His commands so that they could be a people set apart.

Yet, the Israelites continued to turn away from God’s laws and, as a result,  had much pain and suffering. Saint Paul warns us not to "desire evil things as they did.” 

Take these words to heart because history repeats itself! Every society and people who turn away from God’s laws always experiences suffering.

The United States was founded as a Christian nation. Yet, we have gravely turned away from God's ways! The violence, the abortions, the widespread acceptance of immoral behavior, the continued destruction of the family shows we are -- as a nation -- rapidly turning away from God.

Our dollar bills say, “In God we trust.” Yet, these words are not worth the paper they are printed on if our hearts are far from God.

This year we elect a new president, but who will lead us into God's loving protection by  acknowledging God’s laws? 

God has allowed many tragedies in recent times in order to open our hearts and minds to conversion.

 When 9-11 took place, people were repenting. They were praying. The churches were filled. But it did not last long. We have gone right back to living as if we can live in our nation without God! 

Although each one of us doesn’t have control over the direction of our country and the world, we have control over our lives, and today’s readings call us to repentance! 

Let us listen to Our Lord. Let us repent our sins. Let us come to confession. Let us seek

to live chastely and devoutly. As we heard of the tragedies in today’s Gospel let us be reminded that we do not know when tragedy may come into our lives. In fact, none of us are going to live forever on earth. And even the world in which we live today will not be here forever. This is why our Lord teaches us that we must repent.

Let us follow our Lord’s wisdom. May God bless us and help us.

Did you enjoy this sermon? Fr. Shea has many others. Perhaps you would like to Learn a Lesson From the Fig Tree?