Mar 14, 2022 3 min read Luke 13:1-9

The Tower of Siloam and Suffering

Jesus mentions the death of eighteen people when the tower of Siloam fell and asks "are they greater sinners than others?" The implied answer is no. They did nothing that might cause their death.

James Tissot, The Tower of Siloam, Brooklyn Museum, Public Domain

Why do bad things happen? Do disasters signal God's punishment? These questions are perennial today as we suffer individually and on a global scale. And they surely existed in the ancient world as well.

How do we understand suffering?

This Sunday's gospel Lesson, Luke 13:1-9, mentions two obscure moments in Jerusalem during the first century C.E.

At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or 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? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”

At first glance, these incidents appear to be merely Jesus's introductory questions that lead to his telling of the Parable of the Fig Tree (verses 6-9). We usually don't pay much attention to these initial verses, and the events are not spoken of in any other biblical texts. They are gruesome and random.

Yet, Jesus uses them as specific examples – phrased as rhetorical questions – to make an important point about judgment, punishment, and sin.

Jesus mentions the death of eighteen people when the tower of Siloam fell and asks "are they greater sinners than others?" The implied answer is no. They did nothing morally that might cause their death. Perhaps there was a construction site accident during the building or repair of the tower or perhaps previous work on the tower made it structurally unsound. No matter the cause, Jesus points to the tower's fall and asks his audience: Are the ones killed to blame? Did these people do something so terrible as to deserve the punishment of death?

Bad things happen. But disasters and accidents are not the results of sin. God does not own a sin-ometer that tracks our sins and punishes us accordingly.

Happy Purim!

The Jewish celebration of Purim begins the evening of Wednesday, March 16th and ends the next evening. The holiday centers around the events in the biblical book of Esther, which is read and acted out in the synagogue. (Speaking of Esther, check out this 225-year old Italian scroll of Esther written by a teenage girl.)

This video is a wonderful and lively introduction to the holiday.

Chag Purim Sameach, Happy Purim Holiday to all our Jewish siblings!

Waterfall — Photo by Svitlana / Unsplash

Isaiah 55:1-9

This beautiful passage of comfort includes this opening verse:

Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (NRSV)

The prophet envisions an economy beyond money; the prophet dreams of buying without price. Simply come to the waters and drink.

It is an almost impossible scenario for us to imagine today. How can you buy anything without money? Perhaps it was a difficult message for the original audience in exile as well. They were indeed thirsty and without money. They had lost so much – their land, their king, their temple.

Yet, an invitation is extended. Come. The well is deep.