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Third Sunday of Lent
O God, you call us to repentance and offer us mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Grant us faith to trust this gracious gift so that we may bear the fruit you desire, working to share the abundance of your creation with all those in need. Amen.
Reading I
Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11
Reading II
1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12
Gospel
Lk 13:1-9
Some people told Jesus about the Galileans
whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!
Or those eighteen people who were killed
when the tower at Siloam fell on them—
do you think they were more guilty
than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!”
And he told them this parable:
“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,
and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,
he said to the gardener,
‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree
but have found none.
So cut it down.
Why should it exhaust the soil?’
He said to him in reply,
‘Sir, leave it for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;
it may bear fruit in the future.
If not you can cut it down.’”
**Reflection Question:
Adult: What important work could bear fruit in your life right now if you have more confidence in God’s loving care?
Youth: What great work would you like to do as you grow older? What can you do to begin now?
**Jo McClure Rotunno, Heritage of Faith: A framework for whole community catechesis. Twenty-third publications 2005
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