Extraordinary mercy-
Our gospel text for this morning is 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. He asked them, "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. 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? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did."
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. 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?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
What happens when someone brings you news?
News of an accident, news of a tragedy, news of joy?
What do you do/what do you think/how do you feel?
People brought Jesus news. It doesn’t seem that they were trying to set him up with a tricky question- ‘let’s see how he answers this one!’ Without internet, TV, all the ways we hear about things today- people relied on conversation- did you hear- with the expectation that a response would be- no- that’s awful, I didn’t know- or perhaps- well you know that doesn’t surprise me.
Jesus could have responded with either statement- but then we wouldn’t have this text would we.
People bring Jesus news. The news is about a tragedy. Some commentators refer to Pilate’s actions as ‘state sanctioned terror’ and Jesus responds by asking a question them about their interpretation of the event, about meaning, about possible judgment:
Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way there were worse sinners than all other Galileans?
When I envision this scene Jesus has listened to those people who brought him the news tell their story and you can almost see them wait to see Jesus respond in the expected way- which might have been to say something like- they got what they deserved- or something that would link cause and effect.
In a sense the listeners would have thought Jesus is asking them a rhetorical question- where the answer is ‘of course!’
But Jesus seems to save them the embarrassment of answering wrong and answers for them: NO, but I tell you unless you repent, you will perish just as they did.
And before they can interrupt or question him, Jesus continues with the news of a random accident 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?
Again he answers for them: No, unless you repent you will all perish just like they did.
In the first instance-Pilates’ random violence- Jesus undermines the idea that people who suffered were ‘sinners’ and thus deserved it.
In the second instance- the falling tower- Jesus undermined the idea that bad things happen to people who are in debt.
The flow of this conversation reminds me of conversations I hear in couples counseling. People are talking, in fact, sometimes they even take turns, but they are talking about very different things.
How does Jesus move from a discussion of cause and effect- from reasonable expectations to: repent?
I will come back to that thought in a moment.
Some of you will be watching the academy awards tonight. One of the movies nominated in the best documentary short category is a filmed titled: China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province. The documentary chronicles what happened in the aftermath of a massive earthquake in the Sichuan province of china in 2008. The short documentary narrates the efforts of the parents to seek answers to the questions re: how money was spent or not spent on the school buildings and it narrates the Chinese government’s efforts to maintain silence about the tragedy. It seems the Chinese government has blocked the announcement and any news coverage of this documentary.
One example of response to tragedy: silence, denial of accountability, lack of compassion.
Earlier this week Mark Becker stood passively Tuesday as a jury found him guilty of murder in the shooting of a nationally known Iowa high school football coach. And people respond by introduction legislation that would regulate communication between mental institutions and law enforcement agencies.
One response to tragedy: seek order, seek accountability, and seek ways to prevent future occurrences.
In the recent Olympic games Russia celebrated three gold medals. And the Russian president’s response is as follows: “Those who are responsible for training for the Olympics must take responsibility,” Mr. Medvedev said on Monday. “They must have the courage to submit their resignation,” he said. “And if they do not have this resolve, we will help them.”
One response: is to blame someone, to embarrass, or to shame.
I’m wondering if there is a connection between how you respond depends on who you are. If you are a government you have these resources and options, if you’re a president- you have these resources and options, if you’re a parent you have these resources and options.
And if you’re a child of God...
Repent- saying you’re sorry –yes- apologize to those you hurt- yes, but repentance here means so much more:
1. a changed mind, a new way of seeing things,
2. being persuaded to adopt a different perspective.
This repentance refers to an entirely new reoriented self,
3. to a new consciousness of one’s shortcomings
4. turning and moving into a new direction.
And the direction we are supposed to turn towards?
Jesus tells them a parable.
"A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 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?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
What is reasonable here? The expectation of fruit produced within a certain amount of time. When the man requests the tree be cut down- he’s not acting in any of the ways we just mentioned before: he’s not blaming, he’s not shaming, he’s not trying to deny anything, nor is he trying to prevent this from happening in the future. He is requesting what any person would request. That which is reasonable.
And the gardener responds: 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'
In response to the man’s reasonable request- to cut the tree down’ -the gardener suggests ‘let it alone –the verb here can also be mean forgive- show mercy- all unreasonable actions – the early listeners would have been shaking their head at the suggestion that someone would fertilize a tree, that someone would ‘forgive’ a tree, that someone would act in unreasonable, unexpected – extraordinary ways.
Alongside the message of mercy is the message of urgency: don’t waste your time. It is later than you think. Those whom Pilate killed thought they had more time, so did those people on whom the tower fell. So did those who died in the recent earthquakes, floods and accidents. Seize the opportunity of the present while it’s here. Don’t put it off, live fully, live a life of repentance, live a life showing mercy.
I hear the Holy Spirit calling to my heart and mind these things in today’s gospel.
1. My response to those around me is based on who I am as a person of faith. And as a person of faith my first act is of repentance- recognizing my sin, my need for grace, my need for God.
2. My newly reoriented self- this self turns towards mercy- by offering mercy- this unexpected grace, this unreasonable grace, this extraordinary forgiveness.
A story is told of the Emperor Napoleon who had a rule in his army that anyone who went absent without leave, on being captured would be shot the next morning at breakfast time. There was a boy of seventeen who had seen many of his companions die. Scared, he ran away, but he was caught and was sentenced to be executed next morning at breakfast time. It so happened that this boy was the son of Napoleon’s cook. The mother went to plead for mercy. Eventually, Napoleon ordered her out of his sight saying, “Woman, your son does not deserve mercy.” To this she replied, “Yes, of course, you are right. He does not deserve mercy. If he deserved it, it would no longer be mercy.”
Who in your life needs to hear your words of unexpected mercy,
-who is longing to be shown unreasonable grace,
-who longs for extraordinary forgiveness?
This lent would be a good time to start.
