From the burning bush, Moses is called by God to lead his people out of slavery into freedom (1, Ps). The parable of the fig tree speaks on the one hand of God's patience, but of the urgency of the call to conversion on the other (3). Like the Hebrews of old, we too have failed to heed God's call, thinking ourselves to be self-righteous (2). Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15 Ps 103:1-4, 6-8, 11 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12 Lk 13:1-9