Second Chances(April 1, 2025) Second Chances
The land worker pleaded with the owner to let him work with the tree. He would til the soil, put manure in, and water it. Give it one year to come back. If after all that then, the owner can cut down the tree. The owner gave the tree a second chance. When we look at our lives, sometimes we do not like what we see. Even though we have been at it for a long time, our lives have not born any fruit. It doesn’t bear fruit because we don’t follow the path that God shows us for spiritual growth. He gives us scripture to nurture us but we do not listen to his word. He gives us the Eucharist as food to nourish us, but we don’t come often enough to the table. We keep falling into our old habits, over and over again. Selfishness, pride, disrespecting our neighbour are all ways we hurt others. Then we even hurt ourselves by abusing our bodies with drugs, alcohol and a hurtful lifestyle. We become broken. But God is a God of second chances. Like the story of the fruit tree, God does not give up on us. He gives us another chance, and another and another. He restores us. He gives us the grace to change, to be a better person. We can be a better husband, wife, mom, dad, friend and neighbour. Every morning is a new beginning. It’s another chance to cleanup our act, our lives. God will forgive us. And if we go back to old habits, he will never stop forgiving us if we try to do better. He is a God of infinite love. We can never do enough to earn our way back to God. But God restores our relationship freely out of love for us. He gives us his love. He forgives us. Like the tree in the story, God wants us to bloom and flourish. He doesn’t reject us. We are at the mid point of Lent. Look inward and find what you need to change in your life. Then go to God. He will give you a second chance, and as many chances as it takes so that you are his child again. He forgives you. He will come to see you as you bear fruit. Deacon John Girolami Spiritual Advisor SSVP Ontario Regional Council |
