I was in 6th grade and about to take a big science test. But this test was not with just any teacher. It was with Sister Bernadette – the holy terror of my Catholic Elementary School. There was just something about her that gave me the creeps. I was a fairly average student back then, holding my own in all of my class subjects. But when it came to science, it just didn’t make sense to me. I couldn’t tell you the difference between a proton, a neutron, or a Klingon. I was terrified of this test! My Mom and Dad were always proud of my efforts to get good grades and I didn’t want to let them down. So just before the test, I wrote several of the answers on the top of my desk in barely legible pencil. I sat nervously as Sister started to hand out the tests. I didn’t want to get caught, but I didn’t want to fail either.
As she slowly inched her way down my row, suddenly the fire alarm went off. It was an unscheduled fire drill. We all headed outside and stood together waiting for the all clear signal. As I stood outside in the warm sunshine, I literally saw the light and realized what a fool I had been. I knew my Mom and Dad would be proud of me and love me no matter what my grades were. As soon as we were allowed back in the school, I spit on my hand, walked to my desk and wiped the answers away. I had been given a second chance and I wasn’t going to waste it! I took the test, did my best, and felt at peace. I don’t remember what my grade was, but what happened that day has stayed in my heart and mind ever since.
I am not sure why God gave me a second chance that day. And it wouldn’t be the last time, either. Right now I think I’m on my 369th chance. (I lost track years ago – and luckily God doesn’t keep score either.) God’s patience and love have been with me through all the mistakes, stumbles, and falls that I have made. His second chances have allowed me to grow into the person who I am today.
Photo courtesy of outbacktreatment.com
As the orchard owner in today’s Gospel (Luke 13:1-9), God plants seeds that are expected to be useful and bear fruit. As the fig trees are cultivated and grown, so are we cared for and given every opportunity to produce fruit. Even if we have been lousy at following God, even if we have sinned or been lazy in our spiritual lives, or been uncertain in our belief, Jesus wants us to know that we always get another shot. No matter what we have done, no matter how many times we have done it, no matter where we have wandered, God is offering us a second chance. God is saying, “If you invite me to, I’ll forgive and forget. If you let Me, I’ll make it as if it had never happened. If you allow My Son to take it from you, He will take the stain of your sin and shame and make it white as snow.”
I want you to picture a white canvas, representing your potential in life. Now imagine you’ve thrown dark paint at it, splattering it with red (symbolizing our fierce selfishness) and charcoal gray (for our stoic idolatry of material possessions) and dark green (representing our spiritual blindness toward others). That paint visually communicates what our sin, our stain, our running from God looks like. We look at this canvas of our life and think, “Now I’ve really made a mess of things. I’m worthless. There’s no hope for me.” But there is! Those simply become the colors that God, the master artist, takes and uses to begin His masterpiece called you.
God hasn’t given up on us. He wants to heal us, transform us, and guide us into the purpose he has for our lives. Our new mission for him may be completely different from what we had in mind; but if we’re open and obedient, God will give us every tool and circumstance we need to accomplish it. Bearing good fruit means recognizing what God calls us to do, and to then go do it!
Life is full of second chances, and we need to thank God for these. But we have to be willing to take them. And that’s what Lent is all about: to stop running from God and to surrender our lives to Him – for that is when God does His best work! We have to be willing to ask for God’s forgiveness. Pope Francis reminds us that God never tires of forgiving; we just tire of asking forgiveness. We have to be willing to release our mistakes, to grasp our inner goodness and begin again. We have to be willing to give up our fear and to trust God. Every day we are given a second chance at life. This Lent, let us embrace it, cherish it, and use it wisely!
