Some of us may be overly concerned about avoiding sin.  Does this sound strange coming from your pastor?  It may be true!  In today's gospel we hear Jesus response to the buzz about some Galileans whom Pilate apparently had killed.  Unsaid was the assumption that these folks must have done something seriously wrong in order for God to have let them be punished so severely.  It was no different from those in our day who think the earthquake in Haiti was some kind of divine justice.  In today’s gospel Jesus asked, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all the other Galileans?  By no means!  But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did." 

What was Jesus trying to tell his curious followers?  The parable of the fig tree speaks to the importance of yielding a harvest for the Lord.  If we allow our guilt and fear of God's punishment to obsess us, we miss the point.  Jesus did not call his followers merely to avoid sin; he called them to live life to the fullest.  The Lord does not want us to miss one single opportunity to love and serve each other or the Father who loves us. 

            Now we are at the third Sunday of Lent.  What are we doing with this special time for the Lord?  Have you some changes to improve your prayer life?  Set aside a special time each day to reflect on the black Lenten Companion booklet?  Invited someone to come to church with you?   Did you notice any new faces in church today?  How is your fasting going?  What are you doing this Lent to become more in charge of your life?  Have you given up a little TV?  Smoking?  Talking about other people?  How is your almsgiving coming along?  Have you tried setting aside some special gift for the poor?  Have you given your time or talent or treasure to some worthwhile cause?  It's not too late to make this Lent a special time for you and the Lord.