Why not me?

Homily for February 28, 2016 (3rd Sunday of Lent)
Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15; Psalm 103; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9

As many of you know, I have had "some bumps in the road" since undergoing aortic valve replacement surgery in December.  The biggest complication has been a persistent infection which, despite the best efforts of my doctors and nurses, has put me back in the hospital twice in the past month.  In addition to rest and focused care, staying in the hospital provides a time (perhaps too much) to think; and when one is ill or suffering in some other way, one of the almost inevitable questions asked is, "Why me?"  

Jesus, however, reminds us that "Why me?" or "Why them?" is really not the most helpful question to ask, especially in the face of unexpected difficulties, tragedies or disasters.  We have an almost insatiable desire to have quick and simple answers to the questions that arise in every situation we encounter, good or (especially) bad.  In the ancient world and indeed throughout the Bible, there was a very strong ethic of cause and effect or "sowing and reaping."  To put it simply, if something good or bad happened to you, you probably caused it or motivated God or the gods to make it happen.  Jesus refutes that oversimplified understanding in today's gospel reading.

While it's true that we can bring misery on ourselves (e.g. a hangover after having a few too many drinks the night before, finding our clothes a little tighter after weeks of holiday parties and meals), it's certainly not the whole story.  In fact, when things are going well or when others are suffering and we're not, we can delude ourselves into thinking it's entirely due to our efforts or virtues.

Jesus says, "Not so fast!"  He tells the people not to focus on the sins of others but on their own sinfulness and need for repentance.  Bad things do happen; in fact, they will happen to us.  While some deny it or wish it were not so, we and the world we live in are imperfect and subject to illness and death, accidents, violence and grave injustices.  However, if we have a good relationship with God, we will have the strength that we need to live and patiently work through bad times and to celebrate the good ones.

God wants us to succeed and flourish.  Jesus uses the metaphor of a farmer and a fig tree to describe God's patience and generosity with us.  Like a farmer who is still committed to the growth of a fig tree despite its poor harvests, God doesn't give up on us and blesses us with the things we need to fulfill God's purposes for us.  Our Psalm proclaims to us that "The Lord is kind and merciful."  Moses' encounter with God in the burning bush on Mt. Horeb reminds us that our God sees and cares about human suffering and directly or through others can liberate us from it.

So the question for us today isn't, "Why me?" but rather "Why not me?"  And our challenge is to embrace a life of faith, ongoing conversion and holiness that will sustain us in all times and in all the seasons of our lives. +