THE WORD
Rom 8,1–11 / Lk 13,1–9
At that time some people who were present there told him 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.’”
IN OTHER WORDS
One day, while I was hurrying down from Salegseg to attend a monthly pastoral workers’ meeting, an old man flagged me down for a ride. Upon sitting, the old man immediately preached to me about how to be saved and be part of God’s kingdom. He did not know that I was a priest; I just let him talk about his faith. He said that I had to be baptized and be a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I asked him if it would still be necessary for me to be re-baptized since I was already a baptized Christian. Was my baptism invalid because it was not done in the way of the Jehovah’s Witnesses? He was very firm in his answer that I had to be re-baptized and be a part of their flock to attain salvation. I asked him, if that would be the case, what would then happen to those who were not baptized in their church and those who were not Christians.
Where would they be going? Would God be happy if only their members were to enter heaven? The old man was not able to utter a word. Maybe, he was asking himself why this driver was abreast about matters of religion. As we were nearing Cagaluan, I introduced myself as the mission rector of the Balbalan Catholic Mission. The fiery old man changed his tone upon learning that I was a priest. He told me that he used to be a convent boy of a CICM priest assigned in Lubuagan. I replied that I respected his belief, and that we should in fact respect one another. I added that we were all Christians and should therefore help one another to bring people to salvation by not putting down other faiths. Religion is our way to heaven but salvation still depends on how we live that faith daily.
As shown in the Parable of the Fig Tree, one has to bear fruit and share it to others. It means that it is not enough that we profess that Christ is our Lord and Savior. We have to put that faith into action, it has to be seen in our daily lives As St. James emphasizes, faith should always be accompanied with good works, for faith without action is useless and dead (James 2:17; 2:26).
However, the Church believes that there is always room for change and repentance. God never tires of giving us a chance to repent, as the Parable of the Fig Tree tells us. He wants us all to be saved and be a part of His heavenly abode, the very reason why He sent His only Begotten Son to bring us back to Him.
- Gil Rochar Dulay, SVD (Salegseg, Balbalan, Kalinga)
The Word in other words 2015
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
