Thought for the week Lent 3

A LISTENING
by Ann Weems
Going through Lent
is a listening.
When we listen
to the word,
we hear
where we are so
blatantly
unliving.
If we listen to the word
and hallow it
into our lives,
we hear
how we can so
abundantly
live again.

Luke 13.1–9

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 just 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