This week’s Gospel message for Sunday, March 20th is from Luke 13:1-9.
“Jesus said to [the people] in reply, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners that all other Galileans? … Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!’ And he told them this parable: ‘There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and…he said to the gardener, “For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down.”…He said to him in reply, “Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.”’”
“Jesus points out that most of those in his audience believed that those who died tragically in unexpected ways must have been especially sinful. This is not so, he insists, but it is a reminder to all of us to repent and live holy lives right now, for you never know when you might perish. During this penitential season, we are called to repent for our sins and cultivate our virtues so that what God has created in us and Christ has redeemed in us may bear fruit for the world. May we show our gratitude for God’s mercy in the fruit that we bear.” SOURCE: Pastoral Patterns, Spring 2022
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday 2 Kings 5:1-15b; Luke 4:24-30
Tuesday Daniel 3:25, 34-43; Matthew 18:21-35
Wednesday Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9; Matthew 5:17-19
Thursday Jeremiah 7:23-28; Luke 11:14-23
Friday Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38
Saturday Hosea 6:1-6; Luke 18:9-14
“Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.”
Psalm 103:8