Daily Gospel Reflection for October 24, 2015

Today's Gospel: Luke 13:1-9

Optional Memorial of Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop

Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Jesus is combatting in today’s Gospel a popular belief of His time – bad things happen to people who do bad things. Jesus makes it clear that bad things can and do happen to good people, too. Two thousand years later, we still question why bad things happen to good people. In the end, misfortunes and adversities are the effects of the imperfect, sin-infected world in which we live.

The awesome part of being a Christian is, though, that we can unite the bad things that happen to us with Jesus’ own sufferings and make our tribulations triumphs! Like the fig tree in Jesus’ parable, through pain, we can bear fruit.

We, like the fig tree, need to be cultivated. That is not a pleasant process. The ground around us is disturbed, aerated, and fertilized, which, by the way, is quite stinky! Then, too, pruning may be required. All this, so that we may bear fruit.

We may not understand it now, but in the future we will see the fruits of our sufferings. We very well may be surprised at how large and abundant that fruit is. Do not underestimate the power of God’s green thumb! Just leave your troubles in His capable Hands.

Ponder:

What hurt can you hand over to God, trusting that He will bring good out of it that you cannot even begin to imagine?

Pray:

God my Father, I place in your Hands all my hurts, troubles, and sorrows. I united them to the Sacred Heart of Your Son. Sanctify my sufferings. May they bring You, Lord, glory, and me ever closer to You. Amen.

We thank our friends at The Word Among Us for providing our gospel reflection team with copies of Abide In My Word 2015: Mass Readings at Your Fingertips. To pray the daily gospels with this wonderful resource, visit The Word Among Us.

Copyright 2015 Kelly Guest