March 20, 2022 – Lent 3
St. John’s United Church of Christ, Union, Illinois
The purpose of
Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter. It is during this time that
we focus more on Jesus calling people to repentance. As Paul wrote to the
Romans, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”[2]
Sin is turning away from God, or the ways of God; serving our own desires rather
than seeking good for our neighbors. In Jesus time, it was often thought that
bad things happened to people because of their sin. But Jesus, here in Luke 13,
is trying to help us understand that that is not necessarily the case.
Jesus has been
told that a group of Galileans were murdered by Pilate in their place of
worship. Jesus responds, “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.”[3]
He then tells them about an accident in Jerusalem, when a tower collapsed. Did
they die because they were sinners? No, they were no worse people than anyone
else living in Jerusalem. Imagine Jesus saying, “don’t think you’re invincible
and nothing bad will ever happen to you just because you’re following me around.”
Sin doesn’t cause bad things to happen to bad people. That’s not what sin is
about, and that’s not what repentance is about.
When I have
done something wrong, I try to acknowledge it and apologize for it. That’s
confession. Repentance is the work of making things right, of repairing what is
broken. And what is broken is often a relationship, a trust, or even my
relationship with God. Repairing the relationship, re-building trust, that is
the work of repentance. It can be hard work, and it will take time.
Repentance also
means to make a change, to change course so as to not repeat the same mistake
again. Making a change in behavior, a change in how we are in relationship with
another, that is the repentance that Jesus is talking about here.
The fig tree is
the example used here. Fig trees typically start producing fruit within two years
of being planted. This tree that has not borne fruit in three years is unusual,
a problem. The owner of the vineyard sees it as a waste of space and resources.
Yet the gardener tries to spare the tree, to give it one more chance to grow. “He
replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put
manure on it.’”[4] Is
the gardener seeking repentance for neglecting the tree? The gardener offers to
change course, to try some extra care and attention in order to encourage the
tree to bear fruit. That is one way to look at it. The gardener is saying, “It
is my fault. I’m sorry. Let me make amends and try to set things right.”
Some scholars
see the fig tree as a metaphor for and unrepentant Israel, God’s people who have
fallen away, who are faced with God’s judgment. In that sense, the gardener is
Jesus pleading for Israel to be given one last chance to change, to repair
their relationship with God, to bear fruit. And it is through the extra love
and care of Jesus, guiding them to change, that the people are given an opportunity
to repent, to change their ways before the judgment of God falls upon them.
The call to
repentance is a call to change. It is the opportunity to turn to God’s way that
leads to peace, love, and life. Perhaps repentance and bearing fruit is not
about turning from sinful ways or even the fear of God’s judgment, but about
embracing change? The only constant in life is change, and no matter how we
resist, how much we try to hold on to the past, time continues to go by. Maybe
repentance is about changing to meet the changing needs of our selves, our
communities, and our world. What has changed, and how can we respond to that
change in a way that is consistent with the way of Jesus, the way of peace, love,
and life?
Jesus gives us
what we need in order to change. As the gardener gives extra care to the fig
tree so that it may bear fruit, so we are given more love, care, hope, and
encouragement so that we might bear fruit of repentance, fruit that will
nourish the world that we inhabit. Let us do the work, not alone, but together,
with Jesus in our midst, ensuring that we will not perish, but thrive. Amen.
[1] The
scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard
Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of
the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[2]
Romans 3:23.
[3]
Luke 13:2-3.
[4]
Luke 13:8.
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