Repentance is overrated when misunderstood (Luke 13:1-9)

Huh? So if I repent, the same things won’t happen to me? None of my blood mingled with my offerings? No buildings will fall on me? “Okay, God. I’m sorry.” There. Piece of cake. Now I can breathe a little easier.

Actually, I think the word ‘repent’ is a dinosaur in religious language. It has lost it’s meaning. It has lost its value to those who seek the kingdom of God. Some say repentance is turning your life around. And it is. But something else initiated the turn around. People don’t turn their life around on willpower alone. More is needed.

Maybe a clue comes in the story following Jesus’ call to ‘repent.’ Someone comes to the poor tree’s rescue. Look! Up in the sky. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No. It’s the Gardener. He mediates between the fruitless tree and the owner of the vineyard. Grace… undeserved and unsolicited. Will the tree wake up and accept the gift? Does it need to? Or will Living Water from the Cloud in the sky dissolve it and bring it to the root of the tree’s problem?

Stay tuned to see if the tree responds……or if a weenie roast is about to happen.

PWM, Daily Planet reporter