THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

Exodus 3:1-8a,13-15; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6,1-12; Luke 13:1-9

 

little brother avi bala bitra                                                March 20, 2022

The liturgy of the Third Sunday of Lent begins by acknowledging God´s holiness and his claim on us that we belong to him.  It recognizes that we are his own people, and must live in a way that reflects his holiness.

God offers us the gift of faith as our path towards holiness.

Today the church invites us to reflect on the urgency of repentance in an attempt to enhance our Christian lives.  For us Christians lent is a time for serious, disciplined self-examination, a time spent in intensive prayer and repentance before the cross of Calvary.

 During this time of Lent, there is an invitation to examine our lives and change for the better through a process of repentance and the need for the transformation of the heart.

 One of the recurrent themes throughout the Lenten season is the compassion and mercy of our God. It is something that we constantly need to be reminded about.  Repentance entails the recognition of areas of unfaithfulness in our lives and is ready to make reparations. Repentance demands that we become honest with ourselves and recognise our unfruitfulness.

 Once we have accepted this change in our lives God has a ready mission for us. He wants us to fulfil his task on earth namely to proclaim the kingdom of God. Thus the readings of the day are directing us to take a look at ourselves.

In the Gospel today, Jesus speaks of the tree which is alive but it does not fulfil its duty of bearing fruit.

Moses in the first reading is given the task of taking care of the people of Israel now in slavery and bringing them to the Promised Land. 

Paul in the second reading invites people to appreciate and respond to Christ’s saving acts.

 The First Reading from the Book of Exodus, tells us about the deep concern of God towards his people suffering in Egypt. God revealed his self to Moses in the burning bush as he reveals himself to us today.  God showed him his power in the fire that burns and not consumes. Fire is the image of God and expresses his divine presence. 

He had no great gift to talk about God or anyone for he had a speech defect. Moses had his own way of life, plans, preferences and ideas that determined his course of action. But once he confronted God he never hesitated to respond to his call. God placed before him the situation of Egypt and that He was fully aware of the untold suffering of His people.  God wanted him to go to Egypt and fulfil his mission.

 In the Second Reading we see that, God took the initiative to free His people from slavery. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food in the desert. He tells the Christians to avoid all areas of overconfidence.  They have been baptized, they have faith but more is needed.  They have to obey what God has asked them to do.  So he admonishes them, if we think we are standing, we better watch out that we do not fall.

 Jesus in the Gospel invites all men and women to repentance and conversion of heart. It also mentions of the parable of Jesus namely the unproductive fig tree which stresses God’s divine patience and forbearance.  

 Here Jesus is issuing a warning to all of us that now it is the time to repent and to change.  No one knows when God will call us to ultimate accountability. The fig tree reminds us of two kinds of human persons, those who give and those who take.

 Those who give symbolise the sacrifice they make and fulfil the purpose of their existence. To accept Christ’s message is to be open for conversion and change of heart. It invites the person to bear fruit and fulfil the purpose for which it has been created, namely to give.

 Repentance or Conversion means to respond to God’s care for us, to devote ourselves to a life of vigilance day in and day out and constantly renew our cooperation with God’s grace.

 The parable of the useless fig tree while it applies directly to the stubborn Jews of Christ’s time has a lesson for all times and for all sinners. God’s mercy is infinite but man’s earthly life, during which he can obtain the divine mercy, is very finite.  God’s mercy can forgive sins no matter how grievous but it cannot forgive even less serious sins unless the sinner is sorry and asks for forgiveness. 

 During this season of lent, we ask the grace to live in a continual spirit of renewal and repentance. Repentance demands that we become honest to ourselves and recognise our unfruitfulness and change ourselves to bear the right fruit for God.

 Moses was asked to change his view and do his mission. Each fig tree is expected to bear fruit that represents the good works and virtues of those who help to build the Body of Christ.

 Each must answer his calling according to where he has been sent by God. The fig tree is called upon to be generous in the fulfilment of the mission.  We have to recognise our nothingness before God and be ready to receive him during this season of Lent.

 Let us ask ourselves, whether God is using this season of LENT to shower his abundant graces upon us through Jesus Christ, so, we repent and transform our lives.

- @Avinash Bitra OFM Cap.