Is our Faith bearing fruit?
In today’s gospel message, Jesus asks his listeners if they believed if the people killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them were greater sinners than others that had not suffered that fate. This is because at the time of Jesus, people believed that if a person suffered a terrible accident or was maimed or even ugly, it was because they were sinners. When I reflect upon the tragedies of the common man/woman that we will each experience – sometimes disappointment, sometimes loss of a family member or friend, just plain rotten days we have or any of the myriad of challenges that we all must face, it “boggles the mind.” I look at the disappointment of elementary children when not successful in applying to the high school of their choice; college graduates and veterans who cannot find a job; parents and even children who return to God earlier than we would expect; the loss of physical and mental abilities as we age, ( perhaps owing to my being 60 years of age); and worse and I see the ravages of life and human suffering, but never once did I think any of the victims were sinful. I believe that if we experience tragedy or disappointment in our life on earth, that we have a “cheerleader”, of sorts, who is cheering for us to pick ourselves up and continue with life. This “cheerleader” is God himself who asks us to turn to him in difficult moments and find solace and confidence- and always God’s ever extended hand to help us. We need to ask for help and realize that we are not 100% in control of everything. I believe the asking and the resultant growth in faith is what is meant by us becoming fruitful in our spiritual lives. The sad part is that many of us do not want to ask for the offered help.
Rev. Walter Paulits in his book Listen Lord, summarizes this point as prayer:
“ We pride ourselves on not doing what is wrong. But not doing what is wrong is only the beginning of uprightness; when we cease to do wrong, we must begin to do right. Until we do, we are not even off our bellies yet.
Lord, grant that none of us make that mistake. You have given us so much, and we
do try to respond, even though we stumble. Our great joy is that you never give up
on us, even if sometime we almost give up on ourselves. But you know the good that
is in us, you want us to cultivate it, and to bring forth the kind of fruit you know we
can bear. Stay by us, Lord. Help us to continue to grow in your love, and to rejoice
when you see so much in us that even Calvary did not stop you from winning us.
Lord, through your eyes, we see our worth!”
Fr. Mike
