We are, I think, natural born tattle-tellers. I see it in my children; they are so quick to point out each others' transgressions. "He said a bad word." "He cheated." "He hit me first." They notice every failure to play by the rules that we set for them, and require immediate punishment.

Adults are more subtle, but no less exacting in our efforts to assign blame to others when things go wrong. Where I work, it is common to blame other vendors and even other employees when projects are delayed or just plain fail.

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus encounters some people who want to blame people for their own destruction. "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you no, but unless you repent, you likewise will perish." Jesus then tells a parable about a fig tree --- the owner of which wants to cut it down after it fails to bear fruit year after year.

Jesus warns us against blaming others for their suffering. Instead, we are called to examine our own lives and to consider this question: Are our lives bearing fruit for his kingdom?

To me, it seems far easier to look at the suffering in the world and to shrug it off as "just deserts" for bad behavior than it is to challenge myself to have more of a positive impact in my family, workplace, and community. If the suffering of others is to send us any message it all, it would seem that it should stir us to spread more love, compassion and justice to the people around us.

The parable of the fig tree tells us that God is patient with our fruitlessness, for a while. But at some point we will be held accountable for our choices and actions. This is a troubling thought for someone like me, who can produce a lot more good intentions than I can point to positive actions taken on behalf of others. I want my life to be fruitful for God's kingdom, I just have trouble taking time out of work and taking care of myself to spend time serving others.

In today's second reading, Paul concludes, "Let him who thinks he stands take care, lest he fall." We are warned against the self-righteousness that would allow us be so smug about our own spiritual strength that we would dismiss or ignore the weakness of others. Those who would take pleasure in the suffering "sinners" clearly do not see themselves as sinners --- a recipe for disaster for anyone who would call themselves Christian.

Rather than point to the flaws of others, we are called to look for fruit in our own lives. There is no one else to blame if our branches are void of any fruit. We are challenged to live such that we are a source of nourishment for the hungry, strength for the weak, and health for the sick. We are measured by the impact we have, not for the thoughts we think.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.