Third Sunday of Lent – 23.03.2025
Pastor Enzo Pellini
Luke 13:1-9 (NIV)

1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?
3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

The Parable of the Fig Tree
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.
7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
8 ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.
9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

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When I arrived in Canada, I had my interview with the church, in which, in a way, they wanted to do a kind of revalidation of my title, (credential assessment and licensing process) similar to what companies and other professions do. It’s a good custom in Canada to assess the level of knowledge. Although academically I didn’t need it, I saw it more as an adaptation to a new country, a different reality. So, I had to go through six weeks of practice, reading, and interviews.

One of the people on the examination committee, a layperson, asked me the following: “I sometimes feel like I don’t want to go to church. How would you respond to someone with that concern?” I thought for a moment about what answer this woman expected and which of the various responses I could offer would be most appropriate. At that moment, I thought, “What does the Bible say about this?” It was the simplest answer, but not necessarily the most politically correct for my situation, which could hurt my progress in this process. However, I didn’t mind, and I told her that the third commandment says, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” From there, each person can draw their own conclusions. No one is forced to go to church, but we can see that being part of the church brings blessings to our lives, and that’s why we go. It’s a choice about the quality of life we want to have. And that motivates us to go. We say we have a relationship with God and want to worship and thank Him weekly with other believers, as we declare in our Creed every Sunday: “I believe in the communion of saints.” I’m not sure if she liked my answer, but that’s how I responded.

Today, during this time of Lent, we face again the question: What is our position before God? Where do we place our relationship with Jesus and His church in our daily lives? What is the state of our spiritual life? Do we need conversion, meaning, to begin living a new life in God? Or do we simply need to revitalise our relationship with Jesus? That is something each of us can know better and answer.

A good question this morning to determine if we are on God’s path, with God, and for God is: How do we begin our day-to-day? Do we start by putting God first, beginning the day with prayer? Though this might seem insignificant and trivial amidst all of our day, it sets the tone for us to understand at what level of relationship and commitment we are with God.

I. The Fragility of Life: Let’s Not Waste It
The Gospel reading shows us that Jesus was also concerned about our relationship with God. The people, terrified by events, lacked the peace necessary to build a good relationship with God through Him. They were filled with worries about the bad news in life, even without having a TV, and lamented, wondering why bad things happen. Today, many people don’t have a single day of peace because of all the news coming from the media. They wonder where God is in the face of all the tragedies and even question His existence, losing faith and drifting away from Him and the church.

These kinds of questions are not new. Jesus tells us about two tragedies: a massacre of Galileans and an accident with a tower that killed 18 people. People thought that those who died must have been worse sinners than the others, but Jesus responds with a powerful message: “Unless you repent, you too will all perish the same way” (Luke 13:3,5).

This message reminds us of the fragility of life. We don’t know how much time we have here on earth. Life is brief, and as Christians, we should not wait until tomorrow to draw near to God. Jesus calls us to live in repentance and transformation today, not tomorrow.

In times of so much information, like we live in now, we can become trapped in the suffering of others without realising that all we experience, whether good or bad news, is a call to reflection. Tragedies are not just events to understand but opportunities to turn back to God, to review our lives, and to value what truly matters. Lent invites us to do this examination, to review what we are doing with the time God has given us.

II. God Gives Us Time to Change
Through the parable of the barren fig tree, Jesus shows us how God, in His patience, gives us time to change and bear fruit. The owner of the vineyard wanted to cut down the fig tree that bore no fruit, but the gardener asked for one more year to tend to it and give it a chance to change. This gardener is Christ Himself, interceding for us, giving us time to change, to grow, and to draw nearer to Him.

Lent is a special time in which God gives us the opportunity to be transformed. He gives us time to examine our lives, to dig deep into our being, and remove what prevents us from bearing fruit. But, as in the parable, there is no guarantee that we will always have time. God is patient, but His patience has a limit, and that limit is marked by the time we have in this life.

III. Today, as Yesterday, Jesus Calls Us to Repentance: A Change of Life
Repentance means a change in direction. Jesus invites us to bear fruits of repentance, meaning to live in a way that reflects a true inner change. True repentance produces fruits of love, justice, and faith.

1. Fruits of love: Loving God above all things and our neighbour as ourselves. Living a life of patience, generosity, and compassion.
2. Fruits of justice: Living with integrity, seeking what is right, and defending the most vulnerable.
3. Fruits of faith: Trusting in God, growing in our relationship with Him, and sharing our faith with others.

Jesus says in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” Our lives only make sense when we are connected to Christ. In this time of Lent, it’s the moment to check if we are bearing the fruits God expects of us.

IV. The Time of Grace: Preparing for Eternity
We don’t know how much time we have left on earth, but we do know that eternity is our destination. The great feast that God has prepared for us, heaven, is the reason we must make the most of this time to prepare.

It’s easy to fall into the temptation of thinking we have all the time in the world, but the reality is that life is uncertain. If today were our last day, what would we change in our lives? Jesus invites us not to wait any longer, to live with Him now, and to prepare for the eternal event He has prepared for us.

Life is brief and fragile, and God gives us time to repent and change. Lent is a unique opportunity to reflect, renew our relationship with Him, and live transformed. Jesus calls us to repent and bear fruits of love, justice, and faith. Let’s not let this time of grace pass by; let’s make the most of the opportunity to prepare for the eternity He has prepared for us.

Amen