Homilies & Thoughts

Whenever tragedy strikes, our first impulse is to search for meaning. We want explanations: Why did this happen? Who is to blame? We instinctively wonder if suffering is punishment for wrongdoing. Yet, Jesus sharply challenges this notion, asking, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?” His response is clear: tragedy is not a measure of guilt.

In our lives, we frequently see evil or tragedy as signs of divine judgment or abandonment. But God does not operate in this way. The fallen tower of Siloam was not a judgment upon the victims, nor was Pilate’s cruelty proof of their sinfulness. Rather, these events reveal something profoundly different—our world, wounded and broken, yet waiting to be healed.

I have always found the structure of this parable striking. At first glance, the details seem to emphasize the contrast between wealth and poverty and our obligation to care for the poor. Perhaps they even hint at the reality of hell. Yet, by the time we reach the conclusion, it becomes clear that the true focus is on listening to the word of God. That is the heart of the parable: the call to hear and respond to God’s word, for it is in listening that true transformation occurs.

The Lord reminds us that we are not to take on exalted titles like “rabbi.” However, in our modern society, titles no longer carry the same weight they did in Jesus’ time. There are few positions left that command such honor universally, so we do not struggle with this issue in the same way. What remains unchanged, however, is the human tendency to place heavy burdens on others while excusing ourselves. This is the deeper concern Jesus addresses, and it is just as relevant today as it was then.