Today’s gospel explains how God disciplines his people, invites them to turn away from sin, renew their lives and produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Citing two tragic events, Jesus exhorts the Jews to repent and reform their lives. With the parable of the barren fig tree, he also warns us our merciful God will not put up with them indefinitely. Although God patiently waits for sinners to repent, giving them grace to do so, he will not wait forever. Time may run out; therefore, timely repentance is necessary. A Lent without repentance is a year lost from the spiritual life.

We need to live lives of repentance, because we never know when we will meet a tragedy of our own lives. Let us turn to Christ, acknowledge our faults and failings and receive from him mercy, forgiveness and the promise of eternal life. There is no better way to take these words of Jesus to heart than to go to sacramental confession, and there is no better time to go to confession than during Lent. Repentance helps us in life and in death. It helps us to live as forgiven people, and helps us to face death without fear.

We need to be fruitful trees in God’s orchard. Lent is an ideal time to cultivate our tree of life so it may bring forth fruits of repentance, reconciliation, forgiveness and sensitivity to the feelings of others. We need to make the best use of another “second chance” God gives us. During our lifetime our heavenly Father gives us many opportunities to change. During Lent, we are given yet another chance to repent and return to our heavenly Father’s love.