“Nothing erases the past. There is repentance, there is atonement, and there is forgiveness. That is all, but that is enough.”

We have a strange illusion that mere time cancels sin. But mere time does nothing either to the fact or to the guilt of a sin. - C. S. Lewis: (1898 –1963: was a British novelist, poet, academic)

Gospel Text: (LK 13:1-9)

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans

whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.

He said to them in reply,

“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way

they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?

By no means!

But I tell you, if you do not repent,

you will all perish as they did!

Or those eighteen people who were killed

when the tower at Siloam fell on them–

do you think they were more guilty

than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?

By no means!

But I tell you, if you do not repent,

you will all perish as they did!”

And he told them this parable:

“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,

and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,

he said to the gardener,

‘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?’

He said to him in reply,

‘Sir, leave it for this year also,

and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;

it may bear fruit in the future.

If not you can cut it down.’”

In the parable of the fig tree, Jesus tells us that God is willing to give us another chance even if we have failed him.  Therefore, we should not give up at once since God does not want to give up on us.  Every time we have disappointed God and other people, we must stand up again, ask for forgiveness and strive to make up for our mistakes.  A Christian should not lose hope, because God is always ready to help him when he asks for it.  We should also give others another chance especially if they come to us repentant and desiring to change for the better.