LENT IS A TIME OF REPENTANCE AND SPIRITUAL CULTIVATION
Homily for the Third Sunday in Lent, Year C Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch Biblical Texts: Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9 Dear friend, we continue our 40-day sacred journey of Lent. On the first Sunday of Lent, we reflected on Lent as a desert experience – a time of testing and purification. On the second Sunday, we saw how Lent is an ascent to the mountain, a call to encounter God in his glory and listen to his voice. On this third Sunday in Lent, we journey to the bush and vineyard, where God reveals himself as the One who calls us to mission and spiritual fruitfulness. Scripture frequently uses the imagery of trees and fruits to describe spiritual growth and productivity. The Gospel reading of this third Sunday from Luke 13:1-9 presents the parable of the barren fig tree. A landowner had a fig tree in his vineyard that had failed to bear fruit for three years. He wanted to cut it down, but the gardener pleaded for one more year to cultivate and fertilize ...
