sudden endings

Good afternoon friends,
Today is All Saints' Day, a day we remember Christians who have gone before. That includes famous people we might normally think of as "saints" as well as those who have been important to us, parents, teachers, friends. On Sunday we'll remember saints in worship and we'll also hear stories from our recent mission trip to New Jersey.

Our reading for today reminds us that often when bad things happen it's just chance. At the same time, it's a reminder that life is unpredictable. We never know when we might die, so we shouldn't leave important things undone. Instead, we're called to examine our conscience and be right with God. We also want to make sure to tell people we care about them.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 13:1-9

At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. ²He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? ³No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. ⁴Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”

⁶Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. ⁷So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ ⁸He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. ⁹If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”