The Third Sunday of Lent Year C

The Third Sunday of Lent

Isaiah 55.1–9
1 Corinthians 10.1–13
Luke 13.1–9

On the face of it, today’s readings from Isaiah and Corinthians could hardly provide a greater contrast. The passage from Isaiah is lyrical, joyful, full of assurance, whereas Paul’s tone in 1 Corinthians 10 is particularly gloomy and hectoring.

For all kinds of reasons, including the style of writing and the varied references to the historical situation, scholars are now generally agreed that the book of Isaiah is actually made up of the writings of three authors, from different periods. They have all kinds of common themes, so that it makes good sense to bring them together under the heading of Isaiah, which is the name of the first author, at least...