Luke 13:1-9

Real repentance is a reflection about whatever is unfruitful in our lifestyle. Jesus' words ‘Repent or you will perish' remind us of what Socrates said at his trial, after he had opted for death rather than exile: ‘The un-examined life is not worth living.' The parable of the fruitless fig tree is thought-provoking. It is not about doing wrong but about failure to do what is positively right. The fig tree that bore no fruit is like a Christian who attempts no good work and lives a purely selfish life.

Francis of Assisi once invited a young friar to go with him into town to preach. Francis and the young friar spent all day walking through the streets and then came home. When the day's journey was done, the young friar was disappointed and asked ‘Weren't we supposed to preach today?' Francis replied, ‘Son, we have preached. We were preaching while we were walking. We were seen by many and our behaviour was noted. It is of no use walking anywhere to preach unless we preach wherever as we walk!' He summed up his idea in these words ‘Preach the Gospel everywhere, and if necessary, use words.' To him witnessing to Jesus wasn't merely quoting some words out of the Bible from time to time but one who lives by the word of God each day.