Luke 13:1-9 (NRSV)
Read Luke 13:1-9 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 13At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. Verse 2He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? Verse 3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Verse 4Or 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? Verse 5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did."
Verse 6Then 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. Verse 7So 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?' Verse 8He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. Verse 9If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
Devotion
Jesus wondered if his contemporaries blamed others for their suffering. "Do you think they were worse sinners than those who did not so suffer?" he asks the Galileans. Before they can answer, he says, "No, they were not!" And this provides the setting for Jesus to tell the comforting parable of the fig tree. The fig tree, still fruitless, is spared and given another chance. And so are we, through the mercy of Christ our Lord. We are not cut down, though he was, because he was fruitful on our behalf.
Prayer
God, we thank you for the fruit of righteousness that comes from you alone. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.