Reflection for Sunday 23rd March 2025The Third Sunday of LentIsaiah 55.1–9, 1 Corinthians 10.1–13, Luke 13.1–9Seeking God’s Mercy and Bearing FruitIn our Lenten journey, we are reminded that God continually calls us to turn to Him with open hearts, seeking His mercy and responding with fruitful lives. The readings from Isaiah and Luke beautifully illustrate God’s invitation to His people—an invitation to abundant grace, renewal, and spiritual growth.Isaiah 55 begins with a powerful call: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1). It is a reminder that God’s love and mercy are freely offered to us. We do not earn them; they are a gift. God invites us to seek Him while He may be found, to forsake our sinful ways, and to return to Him, for “He will have mercy… He will freely pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). These words are not merely about physical nourishment but about the deeper hunger and thirst of the soul—a longing that can only be satisfied in God.In the Gospel passage from Luke, Jesus tells a parable about a barren fig tree. The owner of the vineyard is ready to cut it down because it has borne no fruit, but the gardener intercedes, asking for more time to cultivate and nurture it. This image reflects God’s patience with us. How often do we fail to bear fruit in our spiritual lives? How often do we resist God’s call to conversion? Yet, God is merciful. He does not immediately cast us aside but instead provides us with the grace and opportunities to grow in holiness.However, this passage also carries an urgency. Jesus prefaces the parable with a warning: tragedies and suffering should not lead us to judgment of others but to self-examination. “Unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:5). These words remind us that our time is limited, and we must not take God’s mercy for granted. Lent is a time for pruning, for removing the obstacles that hinder our relationship with Christ, and for bearing good fruit through acts of love, forgiveness, and faithfulness.How, then, do we respond to this call? First, by seeking God in prayer, trusting that His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). Second, by embracing the sacrament of the Eucharist which nourishes and strengthens us. And finally, by living out our faith in tangible ways: serving others, being generous, and spreading Christ’s love in a world that so desperately needs it. This week’s readings from Isaiah 55.1–9, and Luke 13.1–9 lay God’s invitation before us: Come, repent, bear fruit. He is patient, but He also desires our transformation. May this season of Lent be a time of true renewal for us all, as we respond to His call with open hearts and willing spirits. Amen. Blessings and prayers, Emma
