In today’s Gospel, people come to Jesus with a question about the Galileans killed by Pilate and eighteen citizens killed by a falling tower. They ask if their deaths were punishment for their sins. No, says, Jesus, they did not die because of their sinfulness any more than we live because of our righteousness. Then, Jesus tells them to repent lest all perish! As an illustration, Jesus points to a fig tree past the time to bear fruit. The owner wants to destroy it but the gardener bargains for another year of fertilizing care to allow the tree more time to produce. You know it is not too late for any of us. There is still time to change and with God’s help, a possibility of bearing fruit. Let us review our Lenten resolutions and initiate them if we haven’t done so. “It’s not too late to start!” Happy Lent!

This morning a number of the Elect—adults and children— will participate in the Scrutiny Rite. In this Rite those seeking to receive the three sacraments at the Easter Vigil will look into their hearts to make visible any areas of life which need pruning and change. The Elect will hear the story of the Samaritan Woman at the Well and her thirst. The woman says to Jesus: “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” Our Elect, as well as all of us already baptized, have tried to satisfy our thirst at “other wells”. Jesus the living water can alone satisfy our thirst.

This weekend our Stewardship Committee is inviting us to consider the ways we give of our time and talent to this community in service. In particular, I encourage you to serve in one of the Liturgical Ministries. This is a very large parish and it takes lots of people at each Mass to make our worship prayerful and meaningful to the hundreds of worshipers. We are especially in need of ushers, altar servers and singers for our Ministry of Music. Please join us outside in Serra Gardens for some refreshments and visit the booths featuring our various liturgical ministries.

In closing, I wish to thank all those who worked so hard to make our celebration of St. Joseph’s Feast Day such a beautiful experience for all of us! Thanks too to all who brought delicious baked goods for the St. Joseph table. Everyone who came to the festivities had a wonderful time and at the same time contributed to charity among the poor! Bless you all!

Love – Fr. Vince