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3rd Sunday of Lent
Reading I: Exodus 3:1-8,13-15 II: 1Cor 10:1-6,10-12

Gospel
Luke 13:1-9

¹ There were some present at that very time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
² And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus?
³ I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
⁴ Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Silo'am fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem?
⁵ I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
⁶ And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.
⁷ And he said to the vinedresser, 'Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?'
⁸ And he answered him, 'Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure.
⁹ And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

Interesting Details

(vv.1-5) Luke alone records these incidents. In this highly politically charged atmosphere of Roman-occupied Palestine, Jesus faces yet another trap. If He ignores this event, He will be accused of insensivity to His people. But if He criticizes Pilate, He will probably be reported to the Roman authorities and be punished by them.
The fig tree would have three years to grow after planting. From then, the tree bears fruit ten months out of the year, and so one can reasonably expect to find fruit at almost any time. The fruit of the next three years is considered forbidden (Lev 19:23). The fruit of the seventh year is considered clean and ought to be offered to the Lord (Lev 19:24). The owner in this parable has come seeking fruit for three years, hence it is nine years since planting, and yet it is still barren.
The parable is not about trees but about the nation's leadership: the scribes and the chief priests. They (= the fig trees) are stealing life from the people (= the vineyard; Isa. 5:7). Jesus accuses them as fruitless and should be rooted out. Later, in 20:19, they understand that the vineyard parables are directed to them.
Luke's approach of the fig tree stories is particularly interesting. Unlike Matthew & Mark which relate an encounter between Jesus and a fig tree bearing no fruit. But in Luke, the fig tree is allowed to have more time; indeed, it has already had its time.

One Main Point

What took place in Galilee and at Siloam were not judgments of God. But a severe judgment lies ahead for another place, Jerusalem, where God established a dwelling place among the chosen people.

Reflections

Am I so often focused on the evils to be uprooted that I neglect the need for personal reform as well?
If I learned that I will die tomorrow, what is the one thing that I would have done differently? How hard would it be for me to do that every day?