Third Sunday in Lent 2025

Luke 13:1-9

Rev. Neli Miranda

On the Third Sunday of Lent, we continue our journey with Jesus toward Jerusalem. This is a journey rich in learning, transformation, and growth, for, as Luke tells us, as Jesus made his way to Jerusalem, he continued teaching and challenging the oppressive religious system that in collusion with the political system perpetuated injustice in Israel. In today’s passage we read of an incident where, as Jesus was teaching, some in the crowd informed him about some anti-Rome Galileans murdered by Pilate—the Roman governor—in the temple. These Galileans, it seems, were offering sacrifices when Pilate violently ordered their deaths, mingling their blood with that of their sacrifices. 

Jesus’ response suggests that those giving him this violent news, based on a retributive justice system—the belief that suffering is punishment for sin—assumed that these Galileans deserved this punishment. Known for their resistance against Rome, these Galilean rebels were seen as sinners deserving divine punishment. In other words, God had punished them through this terrible massacre. This interpretation reflected a broader theological perspective that attributed misfortune such as illness, tragedy, and poverty to divine retribution for sin. Considering that such misfortunes disproportionately affected the impoverished, this belief system conveniently served the religious, political, and economic elite, justifying their privileged positions as a sign of God’s favor and considering sinners those who suffered.

Jesus challenges this prevailing belief in retributive justice pointing out that people’s suffering is not a consequence of sin. He reminds them of the eighteen Judean, not rebel Galileans, killed when the Tower of Siloam collapsed in Jerusalem. Neither these Judeans, presumably seen as more righteous, nor the rebellious Galileans suffered due to specific divine punishment. Directly confronting his audience, Jesus asserts that they are not any better than those who suffered, like the Galileans, and warns, “... unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did” (13,3).  The Greek word for repent implies a change of mind and life, while perish signifies “death, to put out of the way entirely, or to ruin a life”. Thus, calls his audience, who considered themselves righteous, to radically change their way of life otherwise they would be entirely out of the way.

Jesus then tells the parable of the barren fig tree. The fig tree is interpreted as representing the people of Israel in Jesus’ time, who considered themselves the only children of God, excluding and despising others. Even the Judeans, as the Gospels testify, believing themselves exclusive, looked down upon their Galilean brethren (Jesus himself was Galilean). This fig tree, though planted in fertile ground and carefully tended, remained fruitless, reflecting the situation of this people.  Then, according to the retributive justice system, they themselves uphold, the barren fig tree should be cut down. However, a gardener intercedes, asking for another year to care for the tree and allow it to bear fruit.  Like the fig tree in the parable, the people of Israel receive more time, a symbolic “one more year” for repentance and bearing fruit. Through this parable, Jesus reveals not a retributive divine justice but a God of justice full of love, mercy, and a willingness to offer opportunities for growth to all. The “one more year”, given to the fig tree symbolizes the continued opportunity offered to the people of Israel for repentance and transformation. Unfortunately, they did not take advantage of that opportunity and perish under the violent Roman system.  

Sisters and brothers, as we continue our Lenten journey toward Jerusalem, Jesus confronts us with our own theologies, our own understandings of divine justice. We may have been taught to think of God in retributive terms, but Jesus reveals a different perspective. He reminds us that the suffering endured by so many in our world, those in the midst of war, those facing hunger, those forced to migrate, is not divine punishment, but often the consequence of social injustice and systemic inequities—called social sin. Furthermore, he teaches us that being Christian does not make us superior to others, nor does our well-being signify that God loves or favors us more. Being Christian does not give us special privileges; it gives us a responsibility: to bear fruit that nourishes the world with justice and peace. Let us continue journeying and learning with Jesus on our path to Jerusalem. Amen.