Every day, we receive news of people getting killed in accidents, war, natural calamities and other mishaps. Why have we been blessed with none of these? Do we take our blessings for granted?

The Gospel today invites us to contemplate the reason for our well-being and blessedness. The parable of the fig tree helps us understand that God’s kindness towards us obliges us to respond in kindness towards others. The fig tree was enjoying a good life, as it were, in the orchard but it was not fruitful despite receiving adequate care along with the rest of the trees in the orchard. It would have been cut down by the owner if not for the timely appeal of the gardener. Jesus is the divine gardener Who gives us second chances at bearing fruits, and it behoves us to take advantage of the tending given to us (the life formation that we received, the skills that we have or resources at our disposal) so that we may contribute to the betterment of the common good. This is perhaps why suffering and death have thus far not been part of our cross; it is because we, who are blessed, are called to assist those who suffer, giving them relief and comfort just as the divine gardener did for us. Let us pray for the grace of gratitude and humility so that we may not think ourselves better than others but instead, called to be comforters, peacemakers and witnesses for Christ in our suffering world today.