This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent, Year C. The previous post looked at the parable of the fig tree in the orchard in detail.  The parable highlighted Jesus’ teaching on the need for repentance that has been indicated throughout the section 12:1-13:9. A clear message of the teaching and the parable is that such repentance has its fruits as well as fruits we are expected to bear into the world.

• Fear not of the one who can harm us in life, but righteous fear of the One who can cast into hell (12:5). 
• Consider ourselves valuable because we are the ones in Creation that God sees as “very good” (v. 7) 
• Acknowledge Christ as Savior before others (v. 8) 
• Be on guard against greed (v. 15) 
• Be rich towards God (v. 21) 
• Don’t worry about your life (v. 22) 
• Strive for the kingdom (v. 31) 
• Sell possessions and give alms (v. 33) 
• Be ready for the Son of Man’s return (vv. 35-40) 
• Be doing what the master wants (v. 47) 
• Interpret the present time (v. 56) 

Jirair Tashjian notes: “Repentance here can be understood as God’s gracious offer of extended opportunities for us to respond to the demands of the kingdom of God and allow that to reshape our lives. If John the Baptist was a hell, fire, and brimstone type of preacher with an urgent message of an imminent judgment, Jesus tempered that austere message with a message about a compassionate God who lets an unfruitful fig tree stand another year. The God of judgment is also the God of grace. Jesus hurls scathing rebukes at religious hypocrisy and at the same time reaches out in compassion and touches hopeless people that had been marginalized for a variety of reasons. He pronounces woes on the rich, the well-fed, the laughing, and offers hope and blessing to those who are poor, hungry and weeping (Luke 6:20-26). Judgment is coming, but the door of mercy is still open. The possibility of change is still available. Will the fig tree become fruitful in another year? God waits and longs for that to happen.” 

Image credit: The Vine Dresser and the Fig Tree | James Tissot, 1886-1894 | Brooklyn Museum | PD-US