Consider the Word, March 17, 2022

Consider the Word, March 17, 2022
Third Sunday of Lent
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for March 20:

• Isaiah 55:1-9
• Psalm 63:1-8
• 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
• Luke 13:1-9

 
Collect

Father of mercy,

alone we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves.

When we are discouraged by our weakness,

strengthen us to follow Christ,

our pattern and our hope;

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Luke 13:1-9

At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam - fell on them - do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did." Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

 
Reflection Questions

1. What does the parable tell us about repentance?
2. What kind of “manure” or fertilizer would help us most?
3. What kind of fruits do we expect to produce?

 
Closing Prayer

God of infinite goodness,

throughout the ages you have persevered

in claiming and reclaiming your people.

Renew for us your call to repentance,

surround us with witnesses to aid us in our journey,

and grant us the time to fashion our lives anew,

through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

 
The Message: Luke 13:1-9

13 ^1-5 About that time some people came up and told him about the Galileans Pilate had killed while they were at worship, mixing their blood with the blood of the sacrifices on the altar. Jesus responded, “Do you think those murdered Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans? Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you, too, will die. And those eighteen in Jerusalem the other day, the ones crushed and killed when the Tower of Siloam collapsed and fell on them, do you think they were worse citizens than all other Jerusalemites? Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you, too, will die.”

^6-7 Then he told them a story: “A man had an apple tree planted in his front yard. He came to it expecting to find apples, but there weren’t any. He said to his gardener, ‘What’s going on here? For three years now I’ve come to this tree expecting apples and not one apple have I found. Chop it down! Why waste good ground with it any longer?’

^8-9 “The gardener said, ‘Let’s give it another year. I’ll dig around it and fertilize, and maybe it will produce next year; if it doesn’t, then chop it down.’”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson