Blessed Virgin Mary

Saturday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the DayRB: Ch 20 Reverence in PrayerMass: Ep 4:7-16; Resp Ps 122; Lk 13:1-9
Grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
In today's Gospel, Jesus presents us with the gardener who did not want his boss to cut down the barren fig tree. The gardener requests to leave the tree for another year and promises to 'cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it,' for 'it may bear fruit in the future.' In other words, let's give it another chance. Oh that people will do the same with us, give us another chance, that is. We are all on the journey of seeking God in one way or another. We move at different speeds and some of our routes are more convoluted than others; we get 'tossed by waves' now, and 'swept along by every wind of teaching' then. We get caught up in the cunning of others and are deceived. We move forward one step and take two steps backward. We have all been there and when we least expect it find ourselves there again even when we should know better. May there be a merciful gardener in our lives who has hope in us, who will nurture and love us so that we bear fruit now and in the future. May we be open to the gardener when she appears. 


MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY, PRAY FOR US.