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
The Greek word for repent, metanoeō, also means to change one’s mind. In our reading today, we don’t get the whole story of what happened. In fact, in life we often don’t get the whole story of what happened. We know our side, our perspective, but it isn’t always the whole picture. Our conversations and our experiences can often lead us to change our minds about something we thought we knew. When we engage in community, when we invite in other perspectives, it can change us—for the better.
Jesus is inviting us into a different perspective and to humbly open ourselves up to the opportunity of change. God is calling us into the world and out of our comfort zone.
Prayer
God of change, direct us on a pathway of new possibilities; Christ Jesus, fill us with your compassion and healing presence; and Holy Spirit, embolden us to understand. Amen.