Luke 13:1-5: a reflection

1Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. 4Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”

When people tell Jesus of a tragedy, some Galileans killed by Pilate, he uses it to correct a common instinct: the instinct to see others' sufferings as proof that they were worse sinners. Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners, he asks, because they suffered such things? No, he says; but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. He turns their attention away from judging the sufferers, and toward their own need to repent. The tragedy of others, he says, is not a occasion to judge them, but a call to examine ourselves.

Notice how Jesus redirects them: from judging the sufferers to examining themselves. The instinct was to see the Galileans' terrible death as proof they were worse sinners, deserving what they got. But Jesus rejects this: they were not worse sinners than others. Instead he turns the matter into a call for his hearers to repent: unless you repent, you too will perish. The tragedy was not an occasion to judge those who suffered, but a reminder to all of the need to repent. Others' sufferings should prompt not judgment of them, but self-examination in us.

That redirection is worth taking to heart, for we can be quick to judge those who suffer, seeing their troubles as proof of greater sin, rather than being prompted to examine ourselves. When tragedy strikes others, we can be tempted to judge them, to suppose they deserved it, to see their suffering as proof they were worse than we; but Jesus says the sufferings of others should prompt us not to judge them, but to examine ourselves and repent. Do not judge those who suffer as worse sinners, seeing their troubles as proof of greater guilt; let the tragedies you hear of prompt you instead to examine your own heart and repent, as Jesus turned the news of the Galileans into a call to repentance. When you hear of others' sufferings, turn from judging them to examining yourself, hearing in the tragedy a call to your own repentance, as Jesus said, unless you repent, you too will perish.

Lord Jesus, when people tell you of a tragedy, some Galileans killed by Pilate, you use it to correct a common instinct: the instinct to see others' sufferings as proof that they were worse sinners. Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners, you ask, because they suffered such things? No, you say; but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. You turn their attention away from judging the sufferers, and toward their own need to repent. Show me how you redirect them: from judging the sufferers to examining themselves. The instinct was to see the Galileans' terrible death as proof they were worse sinners, deserving what they got. But you reject this: they were not worse sinners than others. Instead you turn the matter into a call for your hearers to repent. The tragedy was not an occasion to judge those who suffered, but a reminder to all of the need to repent. Take that redirection to my heart, for I can be quick to judge those who suffer, seeing their troubles as proof of greater sin, rather than being prompted to examine myself. When tragedy strikes others, I can be tempted to judge them, to suppose they deserved it; but you say the sufferings of others should prompt me not to judge them, but to examine myself and repent. Keep me from judging those who suffer as worse sinners; let the tragedies I hear of prompt me instead to examine my own heart and repent, Lord. When I hear of others' sufferings, help me turn from judging them to examining myself, hearing in the tragedy a call to my own repentance.