3rd Sunday of Lent (C)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

3rd Sunday of Lent (C), March 3, 2013

Liturgical readings
Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15
Psalm 103
1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12
Luke 13:1-9

"Leave it another year while I hoe around it."

In the Catholic edition of the New Revised Standard Version, the gospel for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (C) is divided into two, with the following paragraph headings: "Repent or Perish" (Luke 13:1-5), and "The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree" (Luke 13:6-9). One gospel theme that can tie up these two paragraphs is the theme of repentance that will bear fruit for hopes of a better Christian life. In the first paragraph, Jesus teaches that unless we repent and live according to His teaching, we will perish in our sins. In the second paragraph (which contains the parable), the Lord adds the truth of God's mercy and patience. Despite the sinfulness presented in this gospel and our own sinfulness, the Lord still gives us more time (symbolized by the parable's phrase: "leave it another year") to repent and turn our lives closer towards Him.

Let us examine two versions of a statement in the parable: "Leave it another year". "Leave it one more year". There is a difference between two English versions of this statement (written originally in ancient Greek). The second one appears more emphatic, specific and accurate in meaning. Both versions describe the vinedresser's plea to the owner of the vineyard to allow him to work an additional year for the fig tree, with hopes that it will still bear fruit. Bible scholar Karris says that in the Old Testament, Israel is frequently likened to God's vineyard (cf. Isaiah 5:1-6). For many years God has sent prophets to Israel that they may reform and listen to Him. He finally sent His Son, Jesus, to intercede and mediate with God for Israel and all humanity as well. It is thus in Jesus Christ and in the sacramental life of the Church that all God's children are allowed additional time for sorrow for sin, confession, repentance, and a strong resolve to amend one's life.

Every year the Lenten season arrives and gives us more time - that "one more year" of which the parable speaks of. Every Lenten season, we are reminded why God sent His Son Jesus - to give us more time and opportunity to acknowledge our sinfulness, and be reminded that in Jesus we regain our citizenship in heaven. That is why the Church calls all to more prayer, fasting and abstinence. By such spiritual practices, one can restrain oneself better from a vicious direction: which can be gluttony, impurity, anger or impatience. Undertaking a spiritual discipline during Lent can empty oneself of excessive self-love which surely blinds anyone from seeing the needs of others. Purging one's soul from any vice or venial sin can reveal the life the soul needs from the perspective of His wisdom. And Lent 2025 is that "one more year", that "another year". It is a call not to put this year to waste. For it is also declared as a Year of Hope. The Vatican even encourages all the faithful, especially all the lay faithful, to take the opportunity to obey the requirements that will obtain for us a double plenary indulgence (which is a rare opportunity for all the faithful).

Read the spiritual practices necessary for the double plenary indulgence.

Paraphrasing the gospel of Luke 13:1-9, Read here.