Repentance Means to Stop Judging and Bear Fruit

Here's the gospel from today's Roman Catholic lectionary (Luke 13:1-9)

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, “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! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on 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!”

And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil? ’He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

Along with most of our nation, I've been following the presidential debates and listening to the decisive and cataclysmic rhetoric being employed by Mr. Trump. Many of his followers embrace his inflammatory style and resort to derogatory terminology toward women, toward Secretary Clinton, and toward people who can't support his messages of degradation, stereotype, and fear. Recent political discussions online made me think about the concept of fruit, and how scripture tells us we are to judge according to it.

Now the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5 is  "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." This seems to be the opposite of the fruit from Mr. Trump. He does not convey love, joy, peace or forbearance. He does not act kindly. His behaviors are hard to categorize as good. He has repeatedly demonstrated a lack of faithfulness. He is the opposite of gentle. And self-control is one of his weak points.

In light of the Galatians description, his fruit is small, bitter, and worm-riddled.

In today's gospel we see Jesus chastising those who clamor about the sinfulness of others, presumably claiming that a particular group of Galileans are so sinful that they deserved harsh forms of suffering. It reminds me of the claims of some fundamentalists who say that hurricanes are the result of homosexual behavior. It reminds me of the outlook of some of Trump's followers, proclaiming woe unto our nation and the dire destruction that is to follow if we don't change our ways.

How does Jesus respond? First, he tells them they are wrong about the premise. Then he tells them to repent. Then he describes what repentance looks like: the production of fruit.

Good fruit.

Today I pray that those producers of meager, bitter, rotten fruit listen to the call of Christ:

Repent. Stop assuming that the sins of others are greater than your own. Start producing the fruit of the Spirit.

And recognize the fruit of your chosen candidate.

This week's example of Jesus as law breaker

Wednesday's readings included this passage.

John 5:16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” 18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 

He broke the Sabbath.

How can Christian's argue that Jesus did not break the law, when it is so clearly stated over, and over, and over again? His violations of law are like the peals of a bell, calling believers to love and to worship.

Who is it that does the condemning?

Sunday was a day spent contemplating the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, and all that the story means for those who examine the mission of Christ.

I've read the passage numerous times and never before realized that this woman was the first person to whom Jesus chose to disclose his divinity in John's gospel.

This would have been shocking to the chosen people for many reasons. She was an outsider, and a presumed sinner, who belonged to a disobedient and despised people. She was quite probably a product and participant in mixed marriages, which were clearly prohibited in scripture.

And yet Jesus chose her to be the first evangelist in this region of worshipers who did it "wrong".

Every time I pick up the Bible another passage like this is presented. The truth is glaringly and consistently bright.

So how is that the chosen people of today, studiers of the scriptures, faithful Christians, are still falling into the same trap?

Listen up all ye people. Listen to who it is that does the condemning. Is it the Christ?

Wash and pray

Last night's Holy Thursday service was a gorgeous mix of joy and sorrow. We celebrated the institution of the Eucharist and the new priesthood. We washed feet and were washed. We watched the stripping of the altar. And then we mimicked the slow plod to Gethsemane.

We began in light, and ended in darkness. We closed by pretending we would want to stay with him in that garden, singing the Taize piece "Stay with me".

As usual, I wept during the foot washing, my unworthiness to be touched by Him profoundly evident, with pride the most heinous of many crimes.

After the service I thought about a Facebook discussion I'd had earlier in the day with evangelical Christians who preach fire and brimstone for those who support same sex marriage.

I thought about what Jesus did at that supper, and the model of love that He offered to us through it.

He knew that He was about to be betrayed, and by whom. He looked Judas in the eye and in the heart, and dipped His hand with Judas into the bowl. But He did more than just that.

He washed His betrayer's feet. He acted as servant and lover for one who He knew to be so horribly in the wrong.

It made me think.

What a beautiful thing it would be if those who preach judgement and condemnation of same sex relationships would instead get down on their knees publicly, as Jesus did, and say "Let me humble myself. Let me be a servant to you."

Would not this be a more fitting way to stay with Him in the garden, watching and praying?

Please Lord, help me to be a washer of feet rather than a wielder of damnation.