Sunday 23 March 2025 – III Sunday in Lent (C)
Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
Mass Readings: Ex 3:1-8. 13-15 Ps 103
1 Cor 10:1-6. 10-12 Lk 13:1-9.
Key
Verse to Meditate: “unless you repent, you will all perish
just as they did” (Lk 13:5).
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
The call to conversion is a central theme in the Bible, as it represents God's invitation to renewal. This theme forms the core of the Liturgy of the Word on this Third Sunday of Lent. Traditionally, the third, fourth, and fifth weeks of Lent are dedicated to specific catechesis unique to each liturgical cycle. This Sunday’s readings emphasize the call to repentance, illustrated through the parable of the barren fig tree in the Gospel of Luke—a passage with no synoptic parallel.
Through this parable, Luke exhorts his community to repent in light of impending judgment. Reporting the tragedy in Jerusalem, Jesus warned His listeners that they, too, were in danger of divine judgment if they failed to repent. He urged them to take advantage of God's patience, recognize His presence, and embrace the preaching of the Kingdom of God. Jesus, through this parable stresses also that mercy is available to those who repent in time. However, a similar episode can be found in Mark 11:13–14, 20–21 and Matthew 21:18–19, where Jesus curses a barren fig tree. This highlights a recurring biblical motif: God continually grants us opportunities to grow and bear the fruits of true conversion.
Metanoia – The Change of Heart
Conversion
can be understood in three distinct ways. The Hebrew word shub simply
means “change.” The Greek term epistrophē refers to an external
transformation. However, the deeper biblical sense of conversion is captured in
the word metanoia, which signifies an internal transformation—a complete
renewal of the person from within. True conversion occurs through obedience to
God's command, allowing His grace to reshape us at the core of our being.
The first reading recounts Moses’ encounter with God in the burning bush, where the Lord reveals His holy presence and divine name, commissioning Moses for his mission. In the second reading, St. Paul reminds the Christian community in Corinth of how the Israelites were guided by the heavenly cloud and the sacred presence of Yahweh in the desert, calling them to a life of repentance. Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the barren fig tree to call His followers to a fruitful Christian discipleship.
While external changes are important, our ultimate goal is metanoia—a deep, interior transformation that aligns us fully with God's will.
The First Reading
Today's first reading narrates the transformation of Moses in the wilderness—his journey from being a shepherd of flocks to becoming the shepherd of Israel. God encounters Moses in the burning bush, and from that moment, his life is radically changed. It would be a journey from impurity to purity, from living in the impure space in Egypt, back to the sacred space of living in the promised land amidst God’s presence and the people.
The divine action of God calling Moses to intervene in the life of the people, portrays God’s desire to form a people who would become holy as He is (Ex 19:6; Lev 19:2). Thus, this key element of holiness calls our attention to understand it in relation to the actions and purposes of the holy God. The divine experience of Moses at the Burning bush at Horeb, the mountain of God, foreshadows also the presence of the holy God and a holy Sanctuary in the midst of Israel.
Looking at the Burning Bush
One striking element in this passage is Moses' desire to see the burning bush: "Then Moses said, ‘I must turn aside and look at this great sight and see why the bush is not burned up’” (Ex 3:3). It was only when Moses chose to turn and look that God revealed Himself to him, proclaiming His holy name: "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God” (Ex 3:6).
God continues to come to us in moments of profound encounter-our own burning bush experiences. These moments can take many forms: the radiant smile of a baby, the joy-filled face of an elderly person, a moment of deep prayer, a celebration within the family, a time of illness, a job promotion, or any life-changing event. Like Moses, we must choose to pause, to reflect, and to recognize God's presence.
Imagine if Moses had ignored the burning bush in the desert. How often do we walk past the divine signs that God places in our lives? The burning bush is ever-present—we only need to take the time to notice it and encounter God in it.
Remove your Sandals: Another important element we notice in this remarkable encounter is God’s command for Moses to remove his sandals, “For the place on which you are standing is holy ground” (Ex 3:5 see also Josh 5:14-15). It was customary for the priests to officiate barefoot in the sanctuary and to remove their footwear before blessing the people in the synagogue service. In some cultures, even entering someone’s house barefooted is considered to be a sign of respect and said to reflect an attitude of humility. But in the context of the story, since the Lord made known his presence concretely, Moses had to respect this holy presence by taking off his sandals. In this way, the command to Moses to remove his footwear shows that every spot where God intervenes becomes a sanctuary, in the divine-numen encounter.
The act of Moses removing his sandals alludes to the requirement of purity from the people before the manifestation of God’s miraculous powers in a theophanic experience (Ex 19:10-15. 22; Num 11:18; Josh 3:5). God’s command to remove the sandals before the burning bush, implicitly brings to our mind the Levitical purity law that expected everyone to be in the state of purity before entering the sanctuary. Thus, for someone to remove his sandals signified the removal of impurity. One could not encounter God in a state of impurity, neither could one enter the temple in a state of defilement. Remarking about this divine encounter of Moses with God, J. Plastaras says, “when man goes to meet God, he must be open to receive the word of revelation, but at the same time he must be filled with the sense of his own unworthiness.”
The Second Reading
In today's second reading, St. Paul reminds us that the same God who accompanied the Israelites in the wilderness continues to journey with us every day. This truth is beautifully expressed in his words: "And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ” (1 Cor 10:4).
Despite God's presence in the form of the cloud and His guidance through Moses, the Israelites grumbled and refused to heed His voice. As a result, they faced divine judgment: "Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness. Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did” (1 Cor 10:5-6).
St. Paul warns us that their fate serves as a lesson for our own conversion. Similarly, in today’s Gospel, Jesus cautions us that if we are not vigilant, we too may share the fate of the Galileans who perished.
How many Lenten seasons have we celebrated? Yet, have we borne the fruits of true repentance? This sacred season is a precious opportunity to listen to the voice of the Lord and respond. If our lives seem barren and unfruitful, it is a sign that we must allow the Divine Gardener to work within us. As Jesus says in the parable of the barren fig tree: "Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it” (Lk 13:8).
The Word of God is the nourishment-the spiritual manure-that enables us to bear fruit. Let us open our hearts, listen deeply, and allow God to cultivate within us a fruitful life of grace and transformation.
The Gospel Reading – Unless You Repent (LK 13:3. 5)
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus first warns the people to examine their own consciences before judging the sinfulness of the Galileans who had suffered a tragic fate—their blood being mingled with sacrifices. This phrase is an idiomatic reference to their execution at the place of sacrifice due to their perceived rebellion against the state. Instead of speculating about the reasons for their misfortune, Jesus urges the people to focus on their own need for conversion.
Here, we see a common tendency in Jewish thought to associate sin with calamity—a pattern found in various biblical texts (Job 4:7; 8:4, 20; 22:5; Pss 1:4; 37:20; Ex 20:5; Gen 18:16-29; Jn 9:2-3). Jesus further challenges this notion by addressing another tragic incident—the collapse of the tower of Siloam, which killed eighteen people. He cautions against interpreting their deaths as divine punishment, asserting that they were not greater sinners than others. Thus, Jesus, while emphatically rejecting their erroneous belief, underscores the phrase “unless you repent,” teaching us that all sinners are subject to God's judgment unless they repent (Lk 13:3. 5; cf. Lk 10:13).
Death can come unexpectedly, and natural calamities occur without warning. The loss of life in such events is not necessarily a sign of divine retribution. In ancient times, people often viewed death and misfortune as punishment from God. However, Jesus rejects this reasoning, indirectly alluding to the impending destruction of Jerusalem. The central message of this passage is clear: if the people of Jerusalem do not repent, they too will face destruction. Ultimately, Jesus warns that disaster awaits all who fail to respond to the new reality ushered in by His presence, His ministry, and His proclamation of the coming of the Kingdom of God.
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
Jesus illustrates the necessity of true repentance through the parable of the barren fig tree (for other references to the fig tree, see Mk 11:13-14, 20-21; Mk 13:28; Mt 21:19-21; Mt 24:32; Jn 1:49, 51; Jas 3:12; Rev 6:13). In the Old Testament, the imagery of fruitfulness is frequently used to convey God’s expectations of Israel. Like a fig tree or vineyard lovingly tended by God, Israel was meant to bear the fruits of repentance, yet it repeatedly failed to do so (Jer 8:13; Is 5:2; see also Lk 3:9).
Although some biblical scholars interpret the barren fig tree in the parable as a symbol of Israel (Jer 8:13; 24:1-10; Hos 9:10; Mic 7:1), which persists in sin without repentance, Luke specifically identifies Jerusalem as representing Israel. God, like a patient gardener, has nurtured this tree for a long time, yet when the season for fruit arrives—signifying obedience and conversion—He finds nothing. This highlights God’s boundless patience, as He continues to extend repeated opportunities for Israel to return to Him.
However, this imagery extends beyond Israel-it applies to each one of us. God calls every person to continual conversion. We are all like the fig tree, receiving His care and nourishment, yet He expects us to produce the fruits of repentance. The words of Jesus to the people -"Unless you repent, you will all perish as they did” (Lk 13:3, 5)-are just as relevant to us today. The urgency of God's judgment calls us to immediate and sincere conversion. Now is the time to turn back to Him.
The Master Expects Fruits
God has given us the Christian vocation not merely to be beautiful trees but to be fruit-bearing ones. John the Baptist emphasized this when he called upon those seeking baptism to "produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Mt 3:8). True fruitfulness is demonstrated in our response to God's Word, leading us to genuine repentance and a renewed commitment to God's path—just as the prodigal son, upon coming to his senses, chose to return to his father (Lk 15:17-18).
Our ability to bear fruit stems from our relationship with Christ. Just as the branches remain connected to the vine to bear fruit, we must remain in Christ to be spiritually fruitful (Jn 15:5). Jesus affirms this when He tells His disciples, "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples" (Jn 15:8).
However, not all trees produce fruit. Some may appear lush and full of leaves, yet they remain barren. God does not desire trees that are merely outwardly appealing but those that bear fruit in due season. He is patient with us, giving us time to grow, repent, and change (2 Pet 3:9, 15). The parable of the barren fig tree illustrates this divine patience—four years were granted for it to bear fruit, yet still, it remained unproductive (Lk 13:6-9). The vineyard owner and passersby found nothing of value. Similarly, our lives must produce the fruits of genuine repentance if we are to fulfil our purpose.
St. Paul reminds us that a Spirit-filled life is a fruitful life, bearing the fruits of the Spirit—"love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Gal 5:22-23). Without these, our faith remains sterile.
Above all, John the Baptist gives us a solemn warning: "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Mt 3:10). Let us, therefore, strive not only to grow in faith but also to bear abundant fruit that glorifies God.
What does the burning bush in Exodus mean for me? Do I take the time to recognize and reflect on my own burning bush experiences?
Do
I genuinely repent and strive to be obedient to God’s commandments?
Instead
of passing judgment on others, do I acknowledge my own need for conversion?
Do
I make full use of the opportunities God gives me for transformation and
renewal?