"While traveling the way of the Lord, we should be fasting from the vanity of the present age, and feasting on the promise of the age to come." ~St. Augustine

Sunday’s gospel passage begins by referencing two events that had recently occurred in Jerusalem: in the first, Pilate ordered his troops to kill some worshippers in the Temple and, in the second, a tower collapsed killing 18 people. Jesus’ followers are apparently convinced that the victims in each case were likely sinners whose sins brought on their early demise, in other words, they deserved it. Jesus reminds them (and us) of the need for continual repentance, for no one knows when they will die. He elaborates by telling the parable of a gardener who has been given a grace period of one year to rescue a dying fig tree. Jesus is that gardener and his disciples (that's us!) are the fig tree. Lent should be for us like the grace period given to the fig tree, in which we let Jesus, the gardener, cultivate our hearts, nurturing the divine life in us and strengthening us to bear eternal fruit. As you prepare for Mass this weekend, pray for the grace to clearly see those areas in your life most in need of conversion.

This weekend, we welcome Fr. Tony Burrascano, OSA who will be speaking at all Masses about the Augustinian Foreign Missions . There will be a second collection to support the work of the missions.

For a full listing of our Lenten programs and activities please visit our Lenten web page.

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