Lenten Season · Year C

Third Sunday of Lent

March 19, 2028

September, or the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree, Abel Grimmer — **September, or the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree**, Abel Grimmer, c. 1600public domain

Roman Lectionary

GospelLuke 13:1-9 Alt. GospelIf First Scrutiny of the Elect: John 4:5-42 orJohn 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42

First ReadingExod. 3:1-8a, 13-15 Alt. 1st ReadingIf First Scrutiny of the Elect: Exodus 17:3-7

Responsorial PsalmPs. 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11 (8a)Alt. PsalmIf First Scrutiny of the Elect: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)

Second Reading1 Cor. 10:1-6, 10-12 Alt. 2nd ReadingIf First Scrutiny of the Elect: Romans 5:1-2, 5-8

Overview & Insights

"Unless you repent, you will all perish as they did." (Luke 13:3)

Jesus responds to news of Galileans killed by Pilate and eighteen people crushed by a falling tower by refusing to treat tragedy as proof of greater sin, pressing his hearers toward repentance instead. He follows with the parable of a fig tree given one more year of digging and manure before judgment, holding urgency and patience together.

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Commentary

Luke 13 Commentaries BibleHub

Gathers classic verse-by-verse commentaries (Barnes, JFB, Cambridge, Pulpit) on this opening verse and chapter.

Luke 13 Commentary: The Barren Fig Tree Enduring Word · David Guzik

A plain-language, verse-by-verse walk through the whole chapter.

Commentary on Luke 13:1-9 Working Preacher

A scholar's commentary written specifically for this Sunday in the lectionary cycle.

Luke 13:1-9 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A preaching-focused reading that weighs the tension between urgency and patience in the parable.

Luke 13 Commentary Precept Austin

A dense compilation of evangelical commentary excerpts and cross references keyed to each verse.

Luke 13 (Haydock Commentary) Haydock Commentary

A Catholic Douay-Rheims commentary drawing on the Fathers and earlier Catholic exegetes.

Repentance, Lent 3 (C) Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church

A model Episcopal sermon preached on this Sunday's call to repentance.

Third Sunday of Lent, Cycle C Loyola Press · Sunday Connection

A Catholic catechetical walkthrough connecting the Sunday readings to daily life.

Background & Word Study

Luke 13 Interlinear BibleHub

Shows the Greek text word by word for checking the verb behind 'repent.'

The Church Fathers

Luke 13 (Catena) Catena

Collects patristic comments, including Cyril and Ambrose, verse by verse on this chapter.

Worship & Prayers

Third Sunday in Lent The Lectionary Page

All the appointed readings and the collect for the day gathered in one place.

Podcast

#1013: Third Sunday in Lent (C) Working Preacher

Three preaching professors talk through this week's fig tree and burning bush texts.

Art & Music

Revised Common Lectionary Art Index Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt's lectionary art index for browsing paintings tied to this Sunday's readings.

Study Hub

Luke 13:1-9 Textweek

A long-running aggregator of commentary, sermon, and worship links for this passage (some links may be dated).

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