You have been called for a higher purpose.  In the first reading today the call of Moses is central. It recalls how Moses was called.  A murderer who became an exile was called in the middle of the desert by the sign of a burning bush.  Moses embraced the call and later would lead his people to the desert in search of the promised land.  Reverence is key in the calling of Moses.  In the Gospel there is any image of a tree who had not produced fruit in three years but only had exhausted the soil. The image of trees keeps happening in the Gospel to give a metaphor to illustrate the life of a person. The image of this infertile tree could be an image of a person who was wasted resources of life in fruitless pursuits and has not done anything of significance with the life given.  Only exhaust the soil. Only give a hard time to others. Only standing idle, not doing much. Only passing on the opportunity to help others.  Yet those who are inactive in life, just breathing air, with no purpose, are the same who think everything is okay with them.  They think they are self-sufficient and everyone else can fend for themselves.  They think they are right in the way they are living their life and others are wrong. They are conceited.  It is sad and ironic that those whose trees need more help are those who think they need no help at all. St. Paul reminds that those who think they are strong to take care not to fall.  Implying not to take anything for granted and became presumptuous. This same image of the infertile tree can be used as well for others who only justify their own existence by comparison. This idea is also given in the Gospel reading.  The people came to Jesus to tell him about the Galileans who have perished to see the reaction of Jesus.  But what they get is a warning of Jesus that if they did not repent, they would fare far worse.  There are some people in life who produce nothing but for them it is okay because others are not producing as well. They compare themselves to others. "See I am not that bad... why don't you go talk to that other person who is worse than me."  Some spend most of their lives comparing themselves to others and so they fail to live their lives and produce any fruits. It is possible one can grow older and never mature and never produce anything. Many may live in such a way just conforming to the standard of society and not produce anything but waste time and resources. Nothing to show for their lives, but God is patient gives three opportunities. And even more by the intercession of others. To tie these two readings together the message is to embrace the call of God to serve others and thus produce good fruits. Produce by being reverent in the presence of God at church. Produce by sharing talents and gifts. Produce by going beyond self and serving others.  Produce by living a purpose driven life.  Produce while there is still time so at the time of the harvest not to be chopped off but may bear fruit unto eternal life.