Luke
13:1-9
Prayers
of Discipleship To
Be Patient
Focus
Question: How
is
God being patient with you?
word
of
life
If
it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it
down.’” Luke
13:9 (NRSV)
Read
Luke 13:1-9
At
first glance, this passage appears strange and awkward for Luke, not
typical of his writings. It has no parallel in the other Gospels.
This passage might need to be read several times to grasp the flow of
it.
- What is your initial reaction to this passage?
- What do you sense the major theme of the passage?
- Why do you think this passage is part of the Lenten lectionary?
The
passage brings up memories of children who describe the poor behavior
of another child with the clear hope of winning favor with the
teacher concerning their own actions. In this case the complaint is
against the Galileans who took impure blood and mingled it with the
sacrifices, making all of it impure. Those who are telling this
story are highly offended at such disrespectful, barbaric behavior.
Jesus
does not appear to be shocked. Instead, he redirects the attention
towards the tattlers by placing the emphasis on you!
“No,
I tell you;
but unless you
repent,
you
will all perish as they did.” (Luke 13:3 NRSV) This is repeated
again, several verses later, “No, I tell you;
but unless you
repent, you will
all
perish just as they did.” (Luke 13:9 NRSV)
In
addition, Jesus reminds the crowd of the collapse of Siloam’s
tower, killing eighteen people. Not all who die in tragic events are
the worse offenders. Bad things can happen to good people.
- How might the crowd react to the words of Jesus?
- What is the message for us?
Jesus
shifts the conversation by telling a parable of a man who owns a fig
tree, but the tree bears no fruit. Seeing no benefit or beauty in
having such a tree, the owner orders the fig tree to be cut down by
the gardener. Despite the years invested in growing a fig tree,
there is little patience for something so unproductive.
Despite
being a servant, the gardener boldly defends the tree and requests
one more year, but not a year with the same care of the tree.
Instead, the gardener offers to nurture and care for the tree by
digging around it and putting manure on it. He concludes with this
practical advice, “If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but
if not, you can cut it down.” (Luke 13:9)
- What surprises you about this parable?
- How can Jesus call for repentance and follow his remarks with a parable of patience?
- How are repentance and patience related?
To
repent is to change direction, but that can be difficult. Old habits
can be difficult to break, even when the new behavior might bring
health and vitality. Ultimately, fruit is expected.
word
among us
Prince
of Peace, an active, urban congregation in the South, had a legacy of
ministry in the community, but recently conflicts and strife had
developed within the leadership and threatened to splinter the
church. Respect and trust had eroded between the council and the
pastor. Consequently, the newly appointed Mutual Ministry was asked
to intervene on their first assignment. No one quite knew what to
expect from them.
The
Council meeting was called to order with the Mutual Ministry team
being the first item on the agenda. Tension held the air taut.
Slowly and calmly a representative from the Mutual Ministry stood and
began with introductory remarks. All was quiet in the room as the
group listened – genuinely listened.
The
representative lifted up the benefits of dialogue, sharing her own
personal story of being a leader in the community during the
desegregation of the schools in the schools. Those were difficult
days as leaders and lawyers tried to find a common ground. Yet the
children, youth, teachers, staff, and community were counting on the
leaders finding a way to dialogue and to move forward – and so they
did.
Her
remarks concluded, “People must choose to dialogue and choose to
listen to each other.” The group appeared ready for dialogue, but
then she sat down. There was silence. The president moved to the
next item on the agenda. What
just happened? What about the dialogue?
The
Mutual Ministry representative never invited dialogue because she
felt it just wasn’t the right time. Later, she explained that
sometimes patience is needed. Change takes time.
- What in your life needs change?
- What conversations and dialogues are needed to bring about that change?
- Is there a need to have an internal dialogue within you to bring about the change?
- How can the Holy Spirit assist?
Clearly,
Jesus expects repentance – changed behavior –as we redirect our
attention to follow him. Lent is a reminder to change our ways so we
might bear fruit which pleases God. But change is difficult, even if
it God who is orchestrating the change. Fortunately, God is a
patient God.
The
harshness of the owner of the fig tree who wants the tree whacked in
order to get a more productive crop is contrasted with a patient
gardener who is willing to wait one more year. Both can
be used to illustrate
God. The first is sometimes used by preachers who want to place the
fear of God deep in the hearts of sinners, while the later lifts up
God’s patient grace.
- Which is closer to your image of God from your childhood?
- How is God nurturing you to produce fruit?
- How is God being patient with you?
Prayer
Creator
of the universe, be patient with us. Please, be patient with us.
Dig
Deeper
Isaiah
55:1-9
last
word
Change
your ways by having
your
daily devotions in a different room at a different time
and
facing a new direction. Be patient as you listen in a new way to
God.
Daily
Discipleship
Written
by John and Robin McCullough-Bade
Copyright
© 2007 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
May
be reproduced for local, non-sale use provided the above copyright
notice is included.
