Third Sunday in Lent

WesleyMen Lenten & Easter Devotionals 2025

Gospel Lectionary

Luke 13:1-9 New Revised Standard Version

At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. ² He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? ³ No, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all perish as they did. ⁴ Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the other people living in Jerusalem? ⁵ No, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all perish just as they did.”

 ⁶ Then 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. ⁷ So he said to the man working the vineyard, ‘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?’ ⁸ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, well and good, but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

Reflection

The earthly mission work of Jesus Christ begun with a call to “follow”. Jesus Christ constantly kept himself on the move, repeatedly requesting as many as would hear him to “follow” Him.   Peter and Andrew, then John and James, went on the move following Jesus’ invitations to them.  (Matthew 4:19; John 1:43)  The Scriptures tell us about many others who also joined, on the move, in response to Jesus’s “follow me” invitations, as in Matthew 8:21-22; Mark 2:14; 9:9; and Luke 18:17.

The act of following Jesus Christ was dependent on faith, submission, obedience, diligence, dedication, honesty and faithfulness, with a continuous determination to keep moving on, and indeed migrating in order to spread the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of all peoples.

In the course of, and at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry it was another order, “Go”. Thus, an order to keep on being on the move. It was a development from followership moving to leadership moving, in order to make disciples who were also to be urged, to be on the move. But Jesus strongly added that while on the move there shall be temptations for which we need to watch and pray lest we fall. (Mark 14:38)

This devotional passage dwells on Jesus, responding to questions regarding the killing of some Galileans whom Pilate killed while they were offering sacrifices to God. Jesus gave an instance of eighteen persons in Siloam who were killed when the tower fell on them. With this instance, Jesus did not approve nor condemn Pilate’s action. Rather He spoke about the necessity for repentance. He gave an implication that we cannot fathom God’s judgement in terms of who sins and who is a worse sinner. We cannot either know when and how God passes judgment or metes punishment. All we need to do is to plead for mercy, particularly when we examine ourselves and find that we are not doing the right thing or when we are not bearing fruits in our endeavours and efforts as in the instance of the parable of the fig tree (verses 6-9) which Jesus used to buttress the need for self-examination, self-conviction, confession, repentance, pleas for mercy and time for amendment of our ways.

A catechist and his wife who lived an African village were returning from an evangelism work in some smaller villages away from their own.  It was dusk, the evening shadows were falling so fast, and they needed to walk fast. They walked through narrow paths with bushes on both sides of the pathway. Suddenly the man shouted “Python”. The wife, who was walking several meters behind, made a big leap high and run ahead of him. She fell down so heavily and had an injury. But there was no time to savor the pain or attend to the injury. She got up immediately, rolled up her cloth from her legs to allow free running. She ran so fast and far ahead of her husband, reaching home ahead of him.  The injury and pain had to be attended to, but what was more important to them was to pray and thank God for saving their lives from the python.

When they went into bed for their night rest, the wife slept off soon after laying down, but the husband could not sleep. He kept turning from one side to the other through several hours, yet he could not sleep. It was well after midnight and sleep was far away from him. He drank some water, and took some deep breaths, but the problem was still on. Several questions without answers went through his mind through the hours, even as it was approaching dawn: Haven’t we said our bed time prayer? Haven’t we had our dinner? Haven’t I drunk enough water? What then is wrong with me?

Suddenly it seemed as if he head a silent voice talking to him. “You have lied to your wife and before God.  He remembered that the Reverend Minister in charge of their Village Church had often preached about telling the truth and refraining from lies.  Then his mind went to the scriptures:

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.” (Exodus 20:16)

“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.”    (Proverbs 12; 22) 

“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:9-10)

He said to himself – “I have lied. I have sinned against God. What do I do?”  He woke his wife up and said to her. “Beloved, I did not see any python, I was hungry and I just wanted you to hurry up so we could reach home early.”  He sought her forgiveness and promised never to tell lies to her any more. Then they prayed to God. He confessed to God that he had sinned against Him and against his wife, and that he was very sorry for himself. He pleaded for God’s mercy and forgiveness. When he returned into bed,. he slept off immediately and had a good rest.

Dearly beloved, this Catechist sinned before God and human. God’s goodness departed from him but after his restlessness, submission, confession and repentance, God received him back. In 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 we read:  Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man; but God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

 Beloved brothers and sisters, let us keep ourselves on the move, even as we migrate, and journey on to the eternal home. Let us pray without ceasing, acknowledging that we are sinners, saved by grace, in constant confession and repentance for our sins, needing the patience and mercy of God, and let us remember to do what God tells us to do, never wavering nor slacking, for with God, and in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we shall do great things at all times.

Prayer

Our Father in Heaven, we thank You for Your love, Your grace, Your patience and Your mercy.  Help us to continue to reflect on our sins, to confess and repent, so that we shall receive Your favour, and remain Yours all the days of our lives, as we keep moving on, into eternity, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER OF REPENTANCE IN HYMN

1. With broken heart and contrite sigh,

A trembling sinner, Lord, I cry;

Thy pardoning grace is rich and free:

O God, be merciful to me!

 2. I smite upon my troubled breast,

With deep and conscious guilt oppressed;

Christ and His Cross my only plea:

O God, be merciful to me!

3. Far off I stand with tearful eyes,

Nor dare uplift them to the skies;

But Thou dost all my anguish see:

O God, be merciful to me!

4. Nor aims, nor deeds that I have done,

Can for a single sin atone:

To Calvary alone I flee;

O God. be merciful to me!

5. And when, redeemed from sin and hell,

With all the ransomed throng I dwell,

My raptured song shall ever be:

God has been merciful to me!

• Cornelius Elvin 1797-1873 (MHB 350)

Very Rev. Dr. William Allotey-Pappoe, WesleyMen Regional Leader Africa