"At that time, some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices."

A good Sunday to all.

"At that time…." This is how the evangelical text of today begins. It strikes us that the evangelist places this news that they tell Jesus: a crime committed by Pilate "at that time...". It means that Luke wants to unite what Jesus will say later as a comment to the news they give him.

Luke wants to unite it to what Jesus was speaking at that precise moment. Jesus was talking about the signs of the times, how people knew how to foresee the rain, the weather, the wind, but then they did not know how to recognize the time of the coming of the Lord. Jesus tells them: You pay close attention to the weather signals because you must organize your lives, and it's okay, but how come you do not pay the same attention to the signs of God's time? Don't you realize that a new dawn is appearing on the horizon, that a new world is beginning?

Jesus could tell us today: You are so attentive to the market signals, how the economy is doing, the new line of cars that is about to come out... and that is okay. But you ignore the unique opportunity offered to you to reflect on the meaning of your lives through the Word of the Gospel that I announce to you. It is an important question in this time of Lent. We worry about the signs of the time in which we live, but do we know how to recognize the time of the Lord's coming in our life? It is worth reflecting on this because here, our life is played.

"At that time…" while he was talking about these things, they give Jesus the dramatic news that a group of Galileans—therefore, from the land of Jesus—had gone to Jerusalem, probably to fulfill some promise, pray to the Lord in the temple, to spend a few days of joy in the holy city. And Pilate had his soldiers intervene in the sacred precinct and shed their blood along with the blood of the sacrifice offered. A horrible crime.

The historians of the time, like Josephus Flavius, do not refer to this fact, but it corresponds to the brutal character of Pilate. Agrippa describes Pilate in this way: A corrupt tyrant, avid. Agrippa accuses him of embezzlement, insults, robberies, executions without trial, cruelty without end. With this description, he has likely added to his other crimes. What is it that probably happened in the temple? Some pilgrims from Galilee may have exchanged a heavy joke with the guards. It is possible because the guards were outside the sacred precinct, but the jokes of the pilgrims abounded. Then, from the words, they went through the pushes, some punches ... and Pilate, who during the holidays was in Jerusalem to ensure order because he did not want to be riots there, acted in that way.

On the other hand, it was common knowledge that the Galileans were suspicious people because the revolts always started in Galilee. And also, during the process to Jesus, the fact that he was a Galilean was a suspect in principle. Then, Pilate asked the soldiers to intervene without respect for the sacred place and massacred these unfortunate Galileans. A brutal and sacrilegious gesture. What answer did expect those who gave Jesus the news? I think the first thing they expected was a political position, a severe judgment of condemnation of Pilate and an anti-Roman position taken and perhaps also the declaration and invitation to take up arms... They knew that Jesus was against these things, but maybe he might pronounce himself against the Romans under the impulse of emotion.

And the second answer that they expected from Jesus was of a religious nature because the conception of that time was that if they had suffered death, they were sinners. After all, evil happens to those who sin against the Lord. But these were offering sacrifices in the temple, and just when the prayers were raised to the Lord, they were killed. And this was not understood according to the conception and religious mentality these people had. And therefore, they also expected an answer from Jesus on this aspect.

Listen to what Jesus answers:

"Jesus 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!"

The answer that Jesus gave is beautiful because it sheds light on the reaction we also have in front of the dramatic events that are obvious: the innocent victims of wars, earthquakes, diseases, misfortunes. How are these events interpreted today? More or less as they did at the time of Jesus. We still have certain preachers—even among non-Christians—who interpret these dramatic events as punishment from God. And Jesus is quick to deny this interpretation immediately.

There is no relationship between sin and these misfortunes. "Do you think that those Galileans were more sinful than the other Galileans?" NO, says Jesus. They are facts that happen. It can happen to anyone. The Gospel of Jesus, his word, teaches us how to live all these events. They are not the punishments and misfortunes that the Lord sends us. Jesus has faced the drama of his life and all the difficulties, not thinking that they were the punishment of the Father. NO. They are situations that happen in our world and our lives.

And we must understand them not as a defeat but as an opportunity to mature through all these events. Therefore, certain expressions that we still hear today, even among Christians when a problem occurs, some pain happens: 'What did I do wrong to have these things happening to me?' You have not done anything wrong. Something happened to you in your life, and you must ask for the light of the Lord to know how to live this event. It is a call to brothers and sisters to be close to those suffering.

The second reflection that is usually made is that the interlocutors of Jesus expected Jesus to give a political answer. The situation at the time of Jesus was not especially tense. The Zealots had not yet appeared to lead the revolt against Rome. Jesus does not pronounce on the crime committed by Pilate. They wanted Jesus to say something against the Romans, but Jesus did not do it. There was no need. It was not worth it to exacerbate the mood even more.

Jesus was not insensible to sufferings and misfortunes... he was moved even to tears out of love for his people. He was cautious not to incite anger, aggressiveness, hatred, contempt. These things do not work and can even lead to impulsive gestures and violence that further complicate the situation. Everyone should try to contribute to the political field; it is the duty of each citizen. You have to pay attention not to limit yourself and let yourself be wrapped in that circle where you follow the one who makes the strongest statement, and then everything ends there. Nothing concrete is done. Even if it is little, it is better to do something, but leave some mark—less noise, fewer statements, and more things that help, even if it's something small.

There is a third interpretation of these misfortunes. And it has many followers, even today. 'If all this happens even to innocent people, it means that the world has been badly done. If there is a good God, this should not happen.' And some say that our world is not well done: Why did God not make a different world where misfortunes do not happen, that everyone is good.

The reason is that the world is what it is, and it cannot be anything else. If God made a different world, it would not be our world anymore. And God has loved this world so much, where all these things exist... he has loved it so much that he has come to make the experience to live with us. He is our traveling companion. We must remember that there are very good people, charming, very generous people, but evil people like Pilate in our world. This is our world. If God did it differently, it would no longer be our world. And God has loved this world. He has loved us.

What reflection did Jesus make about what happened? Only one. The invitation to conversion. Conversion does not consist of the decision to avoid some sin. It is the decision to let yourselves be opened by Christ and follow the option of life that he proposes. Jesus says you must convert immediately because time is short; we do not have an eternity of life. We have a limited number of years, and we must use them well, with the correct values for our life.

Lent is this time of reflection, of becoming aware of how we live our existence. That's why the reference is important to 'at that precise moment,' on that occasion... to know how to recognize the signs of the times. The preaching of Jesus is a unique occasion to change the way of thinking and live radically. It is an invitation to go to the root of evil. It is useless to convince oneself that something can be changed simply by replacing those in power. In other words, a revolt: now we are in command... the previous ones were bad.... If you do not change people's hearts, if you do not internalize a different logic, everything will remain as before. It would be like changing the actors, but the theatrical script remains the same.

The acting does not change. The actors who take power change, but they always recite the same scene, which is the one who commands and follows his interests. Jesus invites to conversion because for these things not to happen again, it is necessary to change people's hearts. Therefore, very current advice for us today. Fewer words, fewer accusations, and more life options according to the new person proposed by Jesus.

And to make his thinking clearer, Jesus reminds them of another episode that happened a short time before and is mentioned by the historian of that time, Flavius Josephus. The death of 18 people by the collapse of a tower in Siloam. There was always maintenance work in the spring from the Gijon Pond. From here goes off the water that then reaches the pool of Siloé. It was probably during this type of work that a tower collapsed and killed 18 innocent people.

How does Jesus interpret this fact? First, he again excludes the link between death and sin. God has not punished them. They died because of a fatality. It would have happened to me too if I had found myself there at that moment. What does Jesus do? A second invitation to conversion. The conversion supposes to change the way of living, to direct the person towards a new light, the light of the Gospel. The turning values in our life.

We all guide ourselves in life according to specific objectives that we always have in front of us. Some are very good; others are not so good. There are fundamental values: family, work, home, money, health, friendship. But these are not the most important goals. They are good, but only immediate objectives. It is necessary to give life a purpose that unifies these momentary goals. Something that makes sense to everything. Know what we are doing in this world. Know how to live. To understand what is essential and what space have other objectives, such as family, work, home. They must enter the perspective that the Gospel gives us.

This is what Jesus tells us in this Lenten season. Reflect on what gives meaning to all your priorities—which can be beautiful things, like the ones I mentioned earlier—but they end in themselves. What you must do is join them in a project that goes beyond this life, that makes sense to your whole existence. Jesus says: 'Be attentive. I understand the misfortune that happened to these people, but this could happen to anyone.' The reflection that Jesus wants us to do, especially in this Lenten season, is about our life. Become aware that it is brief, and it is precarious. Jesus says that could happen to anyone what happened to those 18 people. Our life is precarious and short. So many projects, so much money, so many things to do, sometimes we run like a spinning top... you reach exhausted at night... everything is fine, but it does not consider the fragility of life. We must always bear in mind the vulnerability of life. It can end from one moment to the next. And each one must give a good sense to our life.

It is not to worry or live in anguish with the threat of death... NO. It is a wise awareness. Life is short, and you must live it well. Think well and give the correct value to everything. The Lenten season is to reflect on this truth. Jesus tells each of us: 'Look with wisdom at everything that happens around you; even when you are distracted by watching TV, pay attention to what is said there... Be careful not to do what many do when listening to certain news. They turn on the TV for hours to see and review what happened, waiting curiously for new details, something that may excite them.

This is not how Jesus indicates that events should be considered. Ask yourself what these facts teach you. Study your life to see if you are living it correctly. If you are using it for what it is worth, what remains. And now a parable is told. The context on which we have insisted is important: the call to conversion that Jesus has repeated twice: 'if you do not change....'

Listen to the parable:

"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.'"

Let's see who the characters in this parable are. The first is the boss. Clearly, he is God who comes personally to seek fruits because he is very interested in what happens in this world, in this vineyard. Then the vine and the fig appear. It is important to remember that the fig tree does not grow in the jungle or along the way where perhaps some seed has fallen. NO. It is inside the vineyard. And we know very well that in the Bible, the vineyard symbolizes the people of Israel. Remember the very famous song of the lover of his vineyard in chapter 5 of Isaiah. All the attention is given to this vineyard, and when they went to look for fruit, they only found sour grapes that could not be eaten.

The reference is to the vineyard Israel. The prophet referred to what Israel offered to the Lord: great liturgies, songs, sacrifices, holocausts, but this did not interest God. The fruits that God expected were others: fruits of love, of justice, of attention to the poor, to the orphan, to the widows... these were the fruits that God expected from this vineyard Israel, a vineyard that He had cultivated. Its symbolism is very appropriate because the vineyard gives grapes, the grapes give wine, and the wine symbolizes joy. What does God expect as the fruit of the vineyard? He expects joy. The one who produces joy is producing fruits that please God. Liturgies and devotions... are good if they lead to fruit. But if they end only in words or empty gestures... this does not interest God. These are not the fruits that He expects. And it can be deceptive: a tree with beautiful leaves, but God desires the fruits.

The only fruit that is expected is that there is joy. And the one who produces joy in the world has good fruits to God. And there is a fig tree. The fig is another biblical image. We find it in chapter 9 of the prophet Hosea. It also indicates the people of Israel, but in our parable, it refers to a person. You are the one who must produce figs. The fig tree was a valid symbol of peace, of a serene life. When the Israelites were in the desert, they dreamed of a quiet house, with a vine, the field, and then the fig tree outside the home because under the fig tree, one could meet, talk, exchange joy with friends under the shade of the fig tree; and then enjoying this very sweet fruit that grows abundantly in Israel. This was their dream. Sweetness is also what is expected of these figs. A tree that produces fruits must produce sweetness around itself.

In this parable, the invitation is to reflect on a personal level: 'You, Christian, who is inside the vineyard of the Lord, and belong to a Christian community who was born from the womb of the wife Israel, you are inside this vineyard from which the Lord expects fruits. And the fig refers to the personal commitment, to the responsibility of each one in this design and project of God. Therefore, you (each one) are questioned about what fruits you are producing.

And now, the third character enters the scene: the vinedresser. The owner addresses the vinedresser—which clearly is Jesus. The vinedresser is the one who has been sent to this vineyard to make it yield, to make it bear fruit. And the vinedresser takes care of digging around, fertilizing it, giving it water. There is a very interesting indication regarding 'time': 'three years.' "Three years that I come to look for fruit in this fig tree," after the work of this vinedresser, who has insisted and he has worked hard, "and I never find anything."

The reference to those three years is probably a reference to the three years of the public life of Jesus and at the time of the preaching of the Baptist who also invited to produce the fruits that God expects. We remember what the Baptist said to those who came forward, asking him to tell them what they should do. What did he tell the people? He did not ask them to pray more, to do the prescribed prayers because these are not the fruits. "To the people who want to bear fruit: those who have two cloaks, give one to the person who does not have; to the one who has enough to eat: invites those who do not have enough food. These are the fruits. To the publicans: Do not commit injustice, do not disappoint your neighbor, behave loyally, wholeheartedly. To the soldiers: Do not commit violence. This is what the Baptist suggested. But these fruits did not arrive...

Also, remember the episode when Jesus goes to the fig tree to look for figs and only finds leaves. It is the boss's image who checks the tree that he has planted to see if it bears fruit or not. What to do when it does not bear fruit? The parable continues: "He said to the vinedresser: Cut it off, it is even wasting the earth." It is a question that we must ask ourselves. 'You who belong to the vineyard, to the Church... what do you do? Are you a nuisance, or do you produce fruit... what are the fruits you grow? Maybe you are content with some religious practices... you participate in some liturgies, but later this does not affect your behavior. You must reflect on this.

And here begins the dialogue between the boss and the vinedresser. The boss says: 'Cut it because it is useless.' And the vinedresser says: Lord, leave it still this year; I will dig around and fertilize it to see if it bears fruit. If not, next year you will cut it. This dialogue causes us a little difficulty because we know that the boss is God, and the vinedresser is Jesus. Therefore, it seems that Jesus is against the decisions of the Father. Let's try to understand well because this image is lovely.

Here, the boss who wants to solve the problem by cutting is the God who has in mind those who are listening to the parable. They are still thinking of a righteous God, and Jesus, with this parable, wants to disprove this blasphemous image of God: The God who, when he sees that things do not work, cuts them off. NEVER. Jesus has come to announce the new face of God, which gives the possibility of 'a year' to change lives and produce fruit. How long is this 'year'? Pay attention, again I repeat, here Jesus wants to change the image of God who has in mind those who hear it, the idea of a righteous God, and this image of God is present even today. There are many Christians who think this way. NO.

The God of Jesus Christ gives a year... but that 'year' is very long... It is a year that never ends. A year is the expression of God's unconditional and infinite love. Therefore, reflect now on the reality of your life, since it is you who are called to verify the fruits that you are producing, considering that later, one day, your life will end and this may come unexpected, as Jesus said, commenting on those two episodes that occurred in his time. What does the winemaker do during this fourth year—a year that does not end? He digs around to fertilize the land so that the seed of his Word can penetrate profoundly and transform life. And this is a task primarily for this Lenten season. We must let Jesus dig about the land where his Word must penetrate; the land that is our heart, our mind. Let him work, especially during this time of Lent.

Specifically, if we want the seed of the Word to penetrate, at least during this Lenten season, let's ask ourselves: Why do we go to Mass on Sundays? Am I happy because I fulfilled an obligation? This is not how you work the land. Why not during this Lenten season reflect beforehand on the Gospel text that we then will hear together with our brothers and sisters of faith? Thus, we will obtain all the wealth that the text contains. Let Jesus work in you so that the soil moves well, and the seed of the Word can penetrate. Then, Jesus feeds it. He feeds this tree. The food is the Word. The Word of the Gospel.

Then the water: that of his Spirit, of his life force. And the vinedresser says: we will see if it produces fruit in the future or not. 'It will be cut'... is not a threat, but it reminds you of the importance of the years that God gives you in this world. See that your life will be over; time is running out to bear fruit. The fruits are those that Paul recalls in the letter to the Galatians, fruits of the Spirit; first, they are fruits of love, joy, peace, generosity, benevolence, kindness, attention to others, self-control.

Lenten time is the time to verify the fruits of our life and conversion to this proposal of life of the Master.

I wish everyone a good Sunday and a good week.