{"id":5565,"date":"2025-03-23T01:55:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-23T01:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=5565"},"modified":"2025-04-03T10:29:04","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T09:29:04","slug":"commentary-on-3rd-sun-of-lent-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-3rd-sun-of-lent-c\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on 3rd Sun of Lent (C), 23.03.2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TEXT \u2013 Luke 13: 01\u201309 \u2013 Necessity of repentance<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Galileans<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 There were some present at that \nvery time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled \nwith their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, \u201cDo you think that these \nGalileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they \nsuffered thus? 3 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all \nlikewise perish.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tower of Siloam<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 Or those eighteen upon whom the \ntower in Silo\u2019am fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse\n offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, No;\n but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fig Tree<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 And he told this parable: \u201cA man \nhad a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it \nand found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, \u2018Lo, these three years\n I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it \ndown; why should it use up the ground?\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

8 And he answered him, \u2018Let it \nalone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. 9 And\n if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it \ndown.\u2019\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EXPLANATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1 There were some present at\n that very time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had \nmingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, \u201cDo you think \nthat these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, \nbecause they suffered thus? 3 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you \nwill all likewise perish.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere were some present at that very time<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This passage is placed in a setting which treats of judgement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cwho told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 This incident is unknown to history but it fits into the harsh and \nviolent character of Pilate that has come down in secular history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What made this crime particularly \nobnoxious was that the blood of the human victims was mixed with the \nsacred blood of the sacrifices offered to God. Sacrifices were offered \nonly in the Temple in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus is aware that he is on his way to \nJerusalem and trial before Pilate. Mention of Pilate\u2019s cruelty and \nbrutality are not without special significance for him here at this \ntime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd he answered them<\/em> \u2018Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? I tell you, No<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 Jesus clarifies that it is not because they were murdered that they \ncould be called sinners. Jewish culture believed that God punished \nsinners in this world and when people suffered or died violently the \nsame culture attributed this to their sins. That is not so. If people \nare guilty they should be punished. It does not follow that if people \nare punished that they are guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018but unless you repent you will all likewise perish!<\/em>\u2019\u201d\n \u2014 Jesus tells those present to repent or they will perish. Those who \ndied are not necessarily worse sinners than those to whom he spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201clikewise perish<\/em>\u201d \u2014 They will perish suddenly and without preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 Or those eighteen upon \nwhom the tower in Silo\u2019am fell and killed them, do you think that they \nwere worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I \ntell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOr those eighteen upon whom the \ntower in Silo\u2019am fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse\n offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem?<\/em> I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This incidence is also unknown. Jesus repeats his comment about the necessity of repentance to avoid eternal punishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 And he told this parable: \n\u201cA man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit\n on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, \u2018Lo, these \nthree years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none.\n Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?\u2019<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd he told this parable: \u2018A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard<\/em>\u201d \u2014 A fruitful fig tree in a vineyard was a sign of God\u2019s blessing (Mic. 4: 4; Joel 2: 22).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018and he came seeking fruit on it and\n found none. And he said to the vinedresser, \u201cLo, these three years I \nhave come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; \nwhy should it use up the ground?<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 The man found that the fig tree was useless and only taking up the ground. Something better could be put there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8 And he answered him, \u2018Let \nit alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. 9 \nAnd if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut \nit down.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd he answered him, \u2018Let it alone,\n sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. And if it \nbears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down<\/em>\u2019\u201d\n \u2014 The vinedresser symbolises compassion. He does not destroy the \nfruitless plant but nourishes it to get it to produce fruit. If that \ndoes not succeed then there is no longer hope and that is the time to \nuproot it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jerusalem did not embrace its opportunity to repent and so suffered its destruction (Lk. 19: 41\u201344; 20: 9\u201319; 21: 6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

APPLICATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1. God of Compassion<\/em><\/strong>:\n One of the most consoling thoughts in the Bible is the verse which \noccurs thirty\u2013eight times. So I have been told but never checked. This \nverse is how God describes himself. If it occurs so often God must \nreally want this as the way he wishes to be best known and remembered. \nThe verse, in more or less the same words each time, is: \u201cGod is a God of mercy and compassion, slow to anger and rich in kindness<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Could anything be more welcome that \nthose words? How they describe the one characteristic we want from God \nmore than anything else!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This message is expressed in the current\n Sunday Gospel in a parable that describes this mercy and compassion. \nThe owner of the vineyard where the fig tree is growing fruitlessly for \nthree years after reaching the age of maturity to bear fruit is \ninterested in have a plant that will bring him fruit so he is quite \nwilling to destroy a useless tree. Not so the vine dresser who \nrepresents Jesus. He desires another chance to bring the tree to \nfruit\u2013bearing. He intends to pay special attention to it and help it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did the fig tree bear fruit that year? \nWe are not told, nor were we meant to be told. Each of us has to answer \nthat question for himself\/herself. If we are not bearing fruit in the \nvineyard of the Lord, if we are sinners, we are given every chance to \nreform our lives and do something about it. If we reform and bear fruit \nwe are rewarded by God. But if we do not embrace the opportunities given\n us by God, then we must be prepared to take the consequence and be cut \ndown. Speaking in a human way we can say that we will not be as \ndisappointed in our failure as Jesus who has such an interest in our \nspiritual welfare and happiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God\u2019s gift is his mercy that gives us time to repent. He is the God of the Second Chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Why does God allow disasters?<\/em><\/strong>\n There are two news stories in this Sunday\u2019s Gospel passage. One is \nabout an atrocity Pilate performed, killing an undisclosed number of \npeople at prayer. The other spoke of a tower that fell and killed \neighteen people. All who died were innocent and just happened to be in \nthe wrong place at the wrong time. However, the bystanders and others \npresumed that God inflicted punishment on them. These stories bring out \nthe major question posed by so many: why does God allow disasters? Jesus\n did not address this question. His response was that when something \nlike that happens, one should think, here I am a sinner; am I ready to \nface my God if something violent and unexpected happens to me? \u201cUnless you repent, you will all likewise perish<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Jesus\u2019 Preview<\/em><\/strong>.\n Jesus was innocent and sinless yet disaster was about to strike him \ndown in crucifixion. Pilate was mentioned in the first story and \ndescribed as cruel and violent without any consideration for others. \nThere may be a subtle implication that Pilate had a special disregard or\n antipathy towards Galileans. Jesus, the Galilean, was on his way to \nJerusalem to encounter him. Only Pilate could condemn him to an innocent\n death. The passage reminds Jesus that he can expect nothing but the \nworst from Pilate. Certainly there will be no mercy or compassion from \nPilate. Yet God\u2019s mercy and compassion is present in God\u2019s love for \nsinners whom he wants to redeem and save.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our conscience should be touched by the \nfact that our sins condemned Jesus who allowed his crucifixion to save \nand redeem us. That is a perfect motivation for repentance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TEXT \u2013 Luke 13: 01\u201309 \u2013 Necessity of repentance The Galileans 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, \u201cDo you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3413,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5565","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5565","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5565"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5565\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5566,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5565\/revisions\/5566"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3413"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5565"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}