Luke 13:1-5-- Reacting to the Misfortunes of Others

"Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?"

It is dangerously easy to draw the wrong lessons from the misfortunes of others. I don't believe that those who lose everything in natural disasters have been singled out for punishment by God, but I find it easy and comforting to assume that most victims of misfortune have done something wrong– made some error or yielded to some temptation that explains and justifies their suffering. When I encounter people who are homeless, I automatically suspect them of laziness or other character flaws. When I hear about people whose kids have become involved with drugs or gun violence, my first thought is that they must have been bad parents. Do you tend to make such assumptions too?

What if other people's misfortunes made us realize our own failings instead of blaming the victims and feeling superior? That seems to be what Jesus is suggesting when he warns his listeners in Luke 13:1-5 to repent of their own sins, lest they all perish like the victims they've been talking about.

What positive changes might occur if we accepted the victims of misfortune as our brothers and sisters, our moral equals in Christ, and got to know them as individuals? What if we stood in solidarity with the homeless people on our streets, or with at-risk kids and their parents? If we worked together with them, how might we start making our community fairer, more welcoming, and safer for everybody?