Daily Gospel Reflection for October 26, 2024

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Laurann Donahue

Today's Gospel: Luke 13:1-9

In today’s Gospel, Jesus addresses the problem of bad things happening to people. The Jewish people tended to believe that if an evil befell someone (Galileans killed by Pilate or the eighteen people crushed by the collapse of the Siloam tower in Jerusalem), they were being punished for their sins. However, Jesus tells them this is not so. He says that all are sinners.

“If you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”

Just because someone is killed or dies because of an accident, that does not make them more sinful than anyone else. Death is not a direct punishment for sin; all will eventually die. We all must repent to live.

In this world where so much senseless evil goes on, what do we tell our children? Jesus told us to get right with God. Don’t look to what may be another’s sin or punishment. We must look to our own hearts and repent of the evil or sin that we harbor. All people eventually die, naturally or tragically. Sometimes bad things happen to good people as well as bad people. We cannot always explain why to our children, but we can comfort them with Jesus’ remedy—repentance (also called Confession). Regular repentance will strengthen our intimacy with Jesus Christ. And, if we go to Him regularly, we will always be ready for whatever comes and to face anything the world throws at us.

This Gospel passage may seem gloomy, but it can be seen as an encouraging passage. Jesus told everyone that tragic or senseless deaths do not mean that a person was not worthy of life. It is just death. If you repent, you will still die someday, but there is an implied invitation to embrace what He offers. Remember, repentance can bring us closer to Him.

Ponder:

Do I regularly go to Jesus and repent of the sin I harbor in my heart?

Pray:

Dear Lord, please help me to see what sin I harbor in my heart and let go of it. I will repent of all that keeps me from an intimate relationship with You.

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