Michael Oher was a lost homeless African American teenager living on the streets. He was abandoned by family and foster care and had no friends. To the community in general he was considered useless. He had nothing to offer. No effort should be wasted on Michael Oher.
Leigh Ann Touhey spots Michael one day on the streets and her insticts told her something was wrong here. But why would Leigh Ann get involved? After all she is a white, somewhat affluent married lady with a family of her own. But she knew she must reach out to Michael and decided he needed a place to sleep for the night. After convincing her husband that this is the right thing to do, Michael moves in with the Touhey family. He did not spend the night; he stayed for a very long time. Leigh Ann and her family made Michael a part of their family. They provided him a second chance, a new life, they saw value in this young man deemed useless by so many. You could say that their love and support nurtured and cultivated Michael. And boy did he respond. Michael improved his grades in school, joined the football team as an offensive lineman. He went on to play college football. The ending scene of the inspiring movie, The Blind Side, ends with the real life Michael Oher being drafted in 2009 by the Baltimore Ravens, the NFL playoff team for which he currently plays.
While our second chance stories may not be as dramatic as Michael Oher, we all can look back and say, yes, we have had many second chances. For me, it was a career move, for others it may be a second chance at love and even others, a second chance at life. In all of these examples, someone knew that we were worth it and we could produce good fruit.
To be one who produces good fruit, we must be open to receive nurturing, to receive care and to be loved. Our soil must be cultivated and fertilized to fulfill our potential. We need to take advantage of those second chances.
As people of faith, are we aware of the second chances we have in Jesus Christ? Are we aware that it is His love and mercy that nurtures and cultivates us?
Today we hear the Gospel of the fig tree. In this parable Jesus gives us the image of a fig tree producing no fruit. In anger, the owner of the orchard says cut it down, throw it away. It is exhausting the soil. The fig tree is useless. Wait, we hear from the gardener, wait. Leave it for another year. Let me cultivate it, let me fertilize it, let me give it another chance. It may bear fruit.
This is the same story of Michael Oher and perhaps some of us gathered here today. We need that care of the gardener, we need a second chance. Don’t cut me down, don’t throw me away. But notice in the Gospel, the gardener says after a year, if it does not produce good fruit, you can cut it down.
Does this mean we only have a year to produce good fruit? No, not in terms of time as we measure it; rather the words of Jesus tell us that we must cooperate with His love, His care, His cultivating of our lives.
No one is useless; no one should be denied a second chance!
My work in the prison has affirmed this message for me. When given the opportunity to be nurtured and cultivated; when exposed to the love and mercy of Jesus; when experiencing that love in others who come and minister to them; they blossom and they produce good fruit. Yes, even in prison.
In the week ahead I will participate in a 4 day retreat, a Kairos weekend, where we will bring a message of hope to 30 men who have not yet experienced the loving message of Jesus Christ. These men in prison, incarcerated for a crime, and demonstrating little interest in faith based programs could easily be cut down, as that fig tree. But wait, no. The gardener says wait. Give them a second chance. Fertilize the soil, cultivate the roots, nurture and care for them. Bring them new life so they may become new lives.
During Lent, we know that many are getting their second chances too. These are the catechumens and candidates that will be received in the fullness of faith at the Easter vigil. This year there are record numbers of them; almost 400 in our Archdiocese alone and 4 here in our parish, all here with us this morning.
Second chances too for the thousands of American Anglicans who just, this week have agreed to join the Catholic Church. Think about the power of being nurtured and cultivated. 100 Anglican parishes in our country and 100 have heeded the call to convert.
Who needs nurturing and cultivating in your life? Who in your own heart are you about to give up on? Who is the fig tree in your life you are about to cut down? No, wait. Turn them over to the gardener, Jesus Christ, who will help you nurture and cultivate them and give them life. There is one person, at least, in our lives that we need to reach out to in the week ahead. Do it now, before it is too late. Forgive that person, love that person and watch them produce good fruit. Give them a second chance.
For Michael Oher it was the love of a family that helped him reach the NFL and maybe one day a shot at that Lombardi trophy that currently resides in New Orleans. But for him and for us, there is a much greater crown that awaits us; the trophy that never fades or goes away. For when we respond to that nurturing and cultivating of Jesus in our lives, we can win the crown of eternal happiness with Him forever.
Don’t be blindsided! Embrace that second chance!
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