Lent 3: Soul Rest
Sunday 23 March 2025
Nourished by patience and slowness
Bible readings
Psalm 63:1-8
O God, you are my God; I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
when I think of you on my bed
and meditate on you in the watches of the night,
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
Luke 13:1-9
At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them – do you think that they were worse offenders than all the other people living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all perish just as they did.”
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the man working the vineyard, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good, but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”
Songs and hymns
- God, beyond our dreams, you have shared in us a memory (StF 496)
- My soul finds rest in God alone (StF 633)
- O love that wilt not let me go (StF 636)
- The King of love my shepherd is (StF 479)
- The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want (StF 481) Stuart Townend ver.
- We follow the Lord along the gradual road to heaven (StF 730)
- We pray until the hour (StF 741)
- We trust the mighty love of God (StF 742)
- When we are living, we are in the Lord (StF 485)
Opening liturgy
Give us this day our daily bread to give our soul rest.
In a fast-paced world that seems never to rest or sleep,
in an internet world of immediate response…
Give us this day our daily bread to give our soul rest.
Let us find that calm centre, that stillness and rest,
that moment of comfort, refreshment and peace…
Give us this day our daily bread to give our soul rest.
To find meaning and purpose, to see the way forward,
with you as our pillow in the moment of tiredness.
O Lord our God, on this Lenten journey,
let us rest in the knowledge of your peace and your calm. Amen.
Object
A pillow
Background notes
...a fig tree...
In the Old Testament, fig trees planted in vineyards often symbolise Judah or Israel. For example, Hosea 9:10 describes Israel as “like grapes in the wilderness,” with fig trees as a metaphor for God’s people. Micah 7:1 uses the imagery of fruit trees to reflect the prophet’s sorrow over Israel’s spiritual state, and Jeremiah 8:13 speaks of withering figs as a symbol of Israel’s judgment and lost blessings.(1)
...let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it.
Stories about fruitless trees existed well before Jesus’ time, and he appears to draw on a familiar tale for this teaching. However, in Jesus’ version, a notable difference is that the gardener responds with leniency and care, choosing to tend to the tree rather than cutting it down immediately. This compassionate approach highlights a theme of patience and the opportunity for growth and renewal if things are well nourished and given time to rest.(2)
If it bears fruit next year...
In Jesus’ version of the story, there is a hopeful message: this seemingly hopeless tree still has the potential to thrive if given more time. Contrary to the owner’s belief that the tree is a “waste of soil,” Jesus’ story suggests that with patience and care, even what seems useless can bear fruit. This reflects a theme of second chances and the belief in redemption and restoration for all.(3
1 Joseph A. Fitzmeyer, The Gospel According to Luke (1981) Doubleday, New York, p. 1008.
2 Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke (1997) Eerdmans, Grand Rapids,p. 515.
3 Green, p. 515.
Questions for discussion
Here are discussion questions to explore the meaning of the fig tree parable and its symbolism. These questions are designed to prompt reflections on patience, growth and the potential for transformation, encouraging us to see both ourselves and others through the lens of grace and renewal.
- God, the lenient gardener The gardener’s response is to nurture the tree rather than cut it down. What does this say about God’s character, and how does it contrast with the expectations of immediate judgment?
- Redemption for the fruitless tree Jesus’ parable gives hope that even a seemingly “waste of soil” tree can bear fruit. How does this idea of second chances resonate with you? Where might we see this theme of redemption and potential in our own lives? How do you think the passage in Matthew (21:18-22) where Jesus curses a fruitless fig tree relates to this passage, if at all?
- Our role as gardeners If we see ourselves as gardeners in others’ lives, what actions can we take to nurture and encourage their spiritual growth? How can we embody this same patience and hope?
Prayer ideas
Spend a few minutes in silent prayer. Allow your minds to wander and to daydream.
The good news to get across
Rest and reflection are essential, not only for the sake of productivity but because they hold intrinsic value. Taking time to pause allows us to reconnect with ourselves and our purpose, nurturing our wellbeing and deepening our understanding of life.
Ways people can respond
Take a few minutes to be silent and invite people to prayerfully daydream. Let their minds wander as they relax.
Hands-on activity
Sew mini pillows from felt.
Prayer of blessing
May God, the patient gardener,
provide rest and nurture for your soul today. Amen.