Twenty-Ninth Saturday of Ordinary Time

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!”

Bad things happen to good people, just as good things happen to bad people. God does not cause suffering, nor does He condone all our actions. We cause suffering by our sins and though we might not understand why some trial comes our way, we should not blame God for it. He not only lets us choose to love Him, but also allows us to deny Him, too. He loves us too much to force us to do anything. This is why there are times when we are tempted to take the easy way out. But there is always a cost to our actions. The question is whether we are sacrificing ourselves for others or others for ourselves. Hopefully, it is the former, but if we do fall into sin, we should always remember God loves us no matter how often we fail or how great our fall. All we have to do is return to Him with contrite hearts and do penance for our sins.

Do we think we are better than others? Do we realize that our trials and tribulations are not God’s fault, but rather the result of our sins and those of the rest of mankind? Are we ready to repent so we might live with God forever and ever?

O Lord, preserve us from sin and death.

Amen.