Third Sunday of Lent

 

In today’s Gospel, we hear about suffering, repentance, and bearing fruit. To an outsider, these three things may seem to have nothing in common, but for us disciples, we learn an important lesson about living the Christian life.  The parable of the Fig Tree calls us to trust in God who always offers us a “second chance.” God waits for us with patience and mercy. Looking at the image of fig tree we see a tree that has gone barren, lost its fruitfulness, is bitter and thorny. There are times when I can be like this too. Jesus says give it a little more time. Allow it to be nourished and it will grow. In many ways this is what God wants to give me during this Lenten season. God wants to nourish me and help me to grow.

Lent is that time for us to come back to God with all our hearts. Like the fig tree we will grow if we allow ourselves to be nourished and pruned by God. Lent is the time where we confront our frailty, our weaknesses, and our struggles as we continue the journey to the cross with Jesus. We are invited to look at our lives through the lens of faith, trusting that God will be with us through it all.

What is God calling me to this Lent? Am I being invited to look at my own limitations, my own brokenness and surrender them to God? Am I being called like the fig tree to allow myself to be pruned and nurtured by God to be transformed at Easter? How can I cultivate this new life that is open to me? Loving God, during this Lenten season give me the grace to trust, grow and cultivate new life.