Embedded Files
. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Lent 3 Yr C
Introduction
Introduction
When I was much younger, I firmly believed (sorta because that's what the church I attended taught) that if I behaved poorly, it would show up in how I looked or even died. I know you've heard it too: "He (she, they) must have done something really bad to have THAT happen to them." Oh, yes, literature affirms this as well. Consider Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray. This story assures us that we become ugly when we are bad. Or perhaps Carlo Collodi's The Adventures of Pinnochio, in which lying lengthens the nose. And we all look cross-eyed at our own noses when we fib, just to check it out.
And yet, Jesus tells us it's just not true. Then Jesus went on to tell us the Parable of the Fig Tree. In this parable, the vineyard owner was frustrated that the tree he had planted still had no figs for him to eat and enjoy. In his frustration, he instructs the gardener to cut it down. The gardener cautions that more time might be needed before the tree would bear fruit. The gardener suggests that more attention to the tree might be needed; like fertilizer and tilling.
So, the parable reminds us that what we do (bearing fruit) IS a reflection of how we live (what we believe). In other words, our behavior speaks for us. And, friends, you know this to be true. You see this every day. On the plus side, you see the behavior of service personnel (like firemen and EMTs) and of medical people (like nurses and doctors) and of your friends and neighors (when they help each other). On the negative side, you see behavior of bullies and mean-spirited people and jealous folk and judgmental persons.
With Jesus, we can rejoice in our lives and how we live. I encourage you to bear fruit that makes Jesus smile. Comments welcome.
Luke 13:1-9
Luke 13:1-9
At that very time there were some present who told Jesus 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.”
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'”
sermons4kids: “What can we do to help us produce the kind of fruit that God expects? We can worship regularly, read his Word, and pray. Those things will help us to live a fruitful life.”
Scripture: March 23, 2025—Exodus 3:1-15 (image); Psalm 63:1-8 (image); 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (image); and Luke 13:1-9 (image).
Collect: Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reflection: Luke 13:1–9 tells the story of a fruitless fig tree that the owner is ready to cut down. The gardener, however, asks for a little more time. The gardener wants to tend and cultivate the soil in the hope that figs may yet grow. The gardener is open to a different future for this tree, in spite of its present condition. Think about my own life, or the life of someone I love, in relationship to this story: What needs special tending? What will cultivate the “soil” of daily life so that new growth, new possibilities, might emerge? And what can I learn from this gardener about allowing for a different outcome, a new possibility?
(excerpted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year B, Volume 1 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press)
A video/audio journey through the scripture.
Images enhancing
the scripture
“God’s hand” (1949-53) by Frank Murphy Hall
“Mother of God: The Inflammable Bush“, 19th Century orthodox icon
“Moses with the burning bush“ by Marc Chagall
“Moses and the burning bush” (undated), Phillip and Dennis Ratner Museum
Other voices
about the scripture
“Fig tree and burning bush” by Sr. Brenda Peddigrew
“Nurturing the barren fig” by Susan Guthrie
“Where’s the muck?” by Christopher Burket
Movies representing some part of the scripture
“Sling Blade“, (1996, R), “no such thing as good or redemptive violence”, Review
“Dead man walking” (1995, R), “hate is the worst prison of all”, Review
“Legally Blonde” (2001, PG-13), how do we judge people, “everyone has inner flair”, Review
For families: Study guide & activity (former guide); group activities; snacks--assign the name of a "fruit of the spirit" to freshly prepared fruit; kid video.
For children: activity—see guide/activity above (another); bulletin games.
For middlers: activity—see guide/activity above (another); bulletin games.
Coloring page: Burning bush; Isaiah.
For youth: A focal point of the gospel is "bearing fruit" or doing with our behavior what we say with our mouths. Take a minute to think of how many you know who say one thing but do another. How do you feel about them? Does that feeling help you to remember that YOUR behavior should reflect who YOU are? Are there times when it's tough to live up to your standards? Comments welcome.
Today we come to the next major stage in the ancient story of the history of salvation, the time of the Exodus and Passover. Here Moses meets God in the burning bush and is given his vocation of leading God’s people from slavery into the freedom of the land of promise. Our own Exodus and Passover takes place in baptism. All baptized persons are members of the community of God’s people, and in them that saving work continues. In Lent, the baptized and those preparing for baptism are rediscovering their vocation as members of the community who come to the waters.
The second reading today sees the Exodus/Passover event of Israel as a foreshadowing of the life of the church—the crossing of the sea prefigures baptism, and the manna in the wilderness foretells the Eucharistic feast. Paul warns, however, that just as the Exodus event did not protect those Israelites who later refused to obey God from the consequences of disobedience, so we members of the church cannot rest on the blessings of baptism and Eucharist but must also live in obedience to God’s Word.
The Gospel reading today find Jesus responding to a question of whether natural and man-made tragedies are acts of God toward sinners. Jesus’ response is “no,” but he warns us that even so, we must repent and change. Those who believe that God uses disaster to punish sinners will, when faced with their own death, think they also are dying because of their sin, failing to see the redemption that God is bringing in the dying and rising of Jesus.
The liturgy and the sacraments are not ends in themselves but means by which God’s people are strengthened in living the life of the risen Lord in hope and in mutual love and ministry.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse