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Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Luke, Chapter 13:

Jesus is continuing to teach a crowd and some arrive and raise the issue of some recent political violence (vs. 1). Jesus ignores the political issue and emphasizes a broader point--the universal need for repentance and God’s patient desire to allow fruits of repentance to come forth (vs. 2-9). Still travelling toward Jerusalem, Jesus teaches in a synagogue on the sabbath and takes the initiative to free (literally, “release from captivity”) a woman suffering physically and “bound” by Satan (vs. 10-13, 16). In contrast to the synagogue’s ruler (vs. 14), the woman and congregation have the right response to experiencing a Savior--praise and joy! (vs. 13, 17) Jesus explains through the parable of the mustard seed and parable of leaven, that while one woman being rescued from bondage to sin might seem small, it is evidence of the Kingdom’s growth (vs. 18-21). God’s Kingdom is breaking into all of the world, person-by-person, and all are called to God’s Kingdom banquet (vs. 29-30).

The Gospel According to Luke, Chapter 13:

Repent or Perish

1 There were some present at that very time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? 3 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusa­lem? 5 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedress­er, ‘Behold, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on ma­nure. 9 And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman

10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sab­bath. 11 And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straight­en herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” 13 And he laid his hands upon her, and immediate­ly she was made straight, and she praised God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.” 15 Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to water it? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” 17 As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people re­joiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and be­ came a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

The Parable of the Leaven

20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the king­dom of God? 21 It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.”

The Narrow Door

22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusa­lem. 23 And some one said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us.’ He will an­swer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!’ 28 There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abra­ham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

The Lament over Jerusalem

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came, and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomor­row, and the third day I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following; for it can­ not be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your chil­dren together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’

*Daily Lectio Divina Question:

"And he answered him, ‘Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on ma­nure. And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ” (Lk 13: 8-9) Do I practice the virtue of patience when other people do not give fruit or do I tend to take them out of my life right away?

Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further.