1. GOSPEL OF LUKE 13:1-9 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT The Context of this passage: He has just given the sermon on the mount were He explains how to grow in your relationship with God and with others. He then cast out demons and spoke “woes” to the Pharisees, and called for complete dependence on God. Just before this verse He speaks of consequences for sins un- repented…

2. GOSPEL OF LUKE 13:1-9 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT 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.’”

3. GOSPEL OF LUKE 13:1-9 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT The Call to Repentance: Question 1: What struck your Heart? How did God speak to you in this passage? What did you see in these words or this story? What bothered you? And what are you curious about?

4. GOSPEL OF LUKE 13:1-9 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT The Call to Repentance: Question 2: What is Jesus saying about Repentance? How important is it? Answer: Jesus is not saying that the people who had been killed by Pontius Pilate were experiencing the consequences for their particular sins. Rather, their sins are no worse than ours. (Scholars do not know the details of the “slaughter” by Pontius Pilate in this account in Luke.) It seems that their death was quite gruesome, such that they were even offering sacrifice to God in the very moments that they were murdered. Jesus places great importance on repentance, beyond the fear of consequences for particular misdeeds. The need for repentance has to do with Original Sin…not any particular sin but the Universal Need for God’s Mercy…our most fundamental need to live in God’s Grace!

5. GOSPEL OF LUKE 13:1-9 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT The Call to Repentance: Question 3: What does the word Repentance mean? And how do we do it? Answer: Jesus is not using the common word for repentance as we tend to understand it. The common word is from the Latin “poenitentiae” which as repentance is usually understood as “sorrow for sins” or “sincere regret and remorse for moral failures.” Rather, Jesus is not using this word, in the passage he uses a very different word, “μετανο ῆ τε” “metonate” which means “change your mindset”. Jesus is not suggesting that they change their behavior per se, but rather change their mindset. Change the whole way they think, their understanding of who and what they are, what life is all about and how short it is, which will change the way they feel and make it easy for them to change the way they respond to every circumstance of life.

6. GOSPEL OF LUKE 13:1-9 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT The Call to Repentance: Question 4: What did the man in the orchard say in Jesus parable? What could it mean for Jesus? And what could it mean for you? Answer: Jesus says, “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?” This could perhaps be indicating that Jesus was doing ministry for three years before His crucifixion and yet there was no real fruit…even His disciples didn't show much improvement. He then suggests cultivating the ground around it and fertilizing the soil. This is really all anyone can do, for a tree or for your soul. Only you can metanoia, change your mindset. But because God has already done so much, if you simply change your mindset and see God’s love for you, and open your soul and heart, then you will easily be able to change any behavior.

7. GOSPEL OF LUKE 13:1-9 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT The Call to Repentance: Question 5: Did this new understanding of “Repentance” give you a “Mindset” change? What specifically was the mindset change you needed to have? How can you see this changing your life Answer: Again this is not to get a specific response but in some sense it is to call them or invite them to speak out load or at least to think directly over the mindset they have had and to replace it with a new one. The burden of changing behavior is quite large. To change mindset is very simple, liberating and empowering. It makes repentance more likely, more easy and even exciting!

8. TAKEAWAY: IF I SIMPLY CHANGE MY MINDSET I CAN CHANGE BEHAVIOR…ANYTHING! Lent 2016 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

9. “METANOIA! KEEP GOING! I AM WITH YOU! I LOVE YOU! LET GO…AND LET GOD!” JESUS CHRIST - LENT 2016