It is said that we live in a hyper-critical, risk averse society which likes to apportion blame for anything that goes wrong. However, our so-called ‘blame culture’ appears to ignore the fact that it is impossible to assign blame for certain (tragic) events, which can be a reminder that while God is sovereign, we still live in a fallen, broken world.
This week's news
Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cleric, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, stepped down as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh.
Raúl Castro, the Cuban president, has announced he will step down in five years time, putting an end to the Castro era.
Pope Benedict XVI gave his final Sunday blessing from his studio window in St Peter's Square, Rome, prior to his resignation this week.
Paul Elliott resigned from FA anti-racism post after 'discriminatory' and 'abusive' texts.
Reflection
When any accident or disaster strikes, it does not take long for opinion formers and sections of the media to start looking for scapegoats – people to blame for the unfortunate turn of events.
Likewise, any misjudgement or mishap from a public figure is often seized upon by the same people, who are only prepared to put an end to their feeding frenzy when the person in question resigns.
Sometimes it is apt for the media and opinion formers to go on the offensive, especially when they are investigating wrong doing. Equally, it may be wholly appropriate for the person in question to resign, especially if they are culpable of illegal behaviour.
This scenario becomes problematic when certain sections of the media, newspapers in particular, take the moral high ground over a person’s downfall. Some are even known for adopting a smug, ‘serves them right’ attitude – as if they have never overstepped the integrity line.
In today’s scripture reading we consider Jesus’ response to the Galileans who perished at Pilate’s hands (Luke 13:2), which he juxtaposes with the tragic fate of those who died when a tower collapsed (Luke 13:4). In comparing the two, Jesus was highlighting that bad things do not solely happen to bad people – and also the reverse.
Jesus’ words also confirm that it is wrong for believers to adopt a self-satisfied attitude at the downfall of ‘sinners’ because only God has the right to take the moral high ground, since he is holy. (Thankfully, he never does!)
Moreover, Romans 3:23 reveals that we are all guilty (of sin), and must put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ if we are to be declared innocent; while the verses from 1 Corinthians 10: 12-13 highlight the folly of complacency and self righteousness.
And while today’s scriptures illustrate that there are limits to God’s forbearance - Jesus’ fig tee analogy shows that there will be a price to pay for sin/unbelief – the fig tree was still given one last chance. Luke does not tell us whether the fig tree was fruitful the following year (Luke 13:9), what was paramount was the mercy it received.
Prayer
This prayer should be said at the end of a service.
Merciful God,
we thank you that your patience is only matched by your love,
which is never failing.
Have mercy on us for our lack of patience with others,
and inspire us by your word to never give up or lose hope.
Forgive us for our self-righteousness,
which has a tendency to point the finger
and sees us becoming judgmental of those deemed unworthy.
At such times, may we be aware of our own failings,
but grateful for your amazing grace and tender mercies.
This we ask in Jesus’ name
Amen
Questions
- Why do we live in a blame related culture?
- Is it ever right for us to lose patience or give up on others?
Action
While we were not told whether the fig tree became fruitful the following year, God calls upon us to be fruitful - bearing the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ in our lives. While Lent is traditionally a time associated with abstinence, let us use this time to focus on cultivating one or several of the Fruits of the Spirit.
Young People
While the lesson of the fig tree reveals there are limits to God patience, it also tells us that God is by nature long-suffering. He always provides one last chance – even the criminal on the cross was given one last chance by the Lord. (Luke 23: 40-43)
Are there people in our lives with whom we have lost patience? Today might be a good day to learn a lesson from the fig tree, and give that person one last (another) chance.
Richard Reddie is a writer and researcher. His latest book, “Martin Luther King Jr: History Maker” is published by Lion Hudson. He worships at St James Church (CofE) West Streatham, London.
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