Third Sunday of Lent

Today the Church celebrates the Third Sunday of Lent. The assigned readings are Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; and Luke 13:1-9. The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 103 (Psalm 103:1-4, 6-8, 11).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Psalm 103: The Lord Is Kind And Merciful (Haugen setting)

The Gospel reading is as follows:

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.'"

Reflections on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflections: Third Sunday of Lent (March 24, 2019)

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Third Sunday of Lent (March 24, 2019)

Community in Mission: Sooner or Later Judgment Must Come - A Homily for the Third Sunday of Lent (23 MAR 19)

Crossroads Initiative: Lenten Fasting and the Barren Fig Tree

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: Lenten Reflections with the Priests of the Basilica - Third Sunday of Lent (22 MAR 19)

The Sacred Page: Bearing the Fruit of Repentance: 3rd Sunday of Lent (21 MAR 19)

The Sacred Page: The Fruits of Repentance (The Mass Readings Explained) (18 MAR 19)

St. Paul Center: Fruits of the Fig: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Third Sunday of Lent

Word on Fire: Why the Burning Bush is Such Good News (Cycle C * Lent * Week 3)

Spirituality of the Readings: An Angry Savior? (Third Sunday of Lent C)

In Exile: The Slow, Imperceptible March Of Goodness (Third Sunday of Lent C)

Let the Scriptures Speak: Burning Bush, Barren Fig Tree (Third Sunday of Lent C)

 The Word Engaged: Holy Ground of Being (Third Sunday of Lent C)

Historical Cultural Context: The Barren Fig Tree (Third Sunday of Lent C)

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Augustine of Hippo (Third Sunday of Lent C)