Homily for the Third Sunday in Lent, March 20th, 2022
Tragedies and calamities, due to natural causes or human cruelty, should not be seen by believers as punishment from God but as wakeup calls to be always intent on doing good. The parable of the fig tree is so relevant that we should find it disturbing or, at least, forceful enough to jolt us out of our complacency and inactivity. '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?' Luke 13:7 We should realize that the One who is looking for fruit on our “fig tree” is our