Third Sunday Of Lent

Third Sunday of Lent (Year C)

Ex 3.1-8, 13-15;  Ps 102; I Cor 10.1-6, 10-12; Lk 13.1-9

GOD’S REVELATION TO MOSES

In today’s first reading we heard the fascinating story of Moses and the burning bush. That episode was a real incursion of the supernatural into everyday life. An angel appeared to Moses in the shape of a flame of fire. Then he heard a mysterious voice, telling him to remove his shoes, for the place on which he stood was holy ground.

TRUE PIETY

The Almighty was giving Moses, and us, a telling lesson in reverence and piety. The presence of God, even when  mediated  through one of his angelic messengers, is something which should inspire awe and wonder in us, and yes, a holy fear. ‘Fear’ –  not in the sense of shock-horror, a fright, a moment of terror, but ‘fear’ in the sense of deepest reverence in the presence of something  – Someone – beyond the world of our senses, beyond the thin veil of external appearances which separate the material cosmos from the spiritual universe.

THE PARABLE OF THE UNPRODUCTIVE FIG TREE

In Sunday’s Gospel reading (Luke 13:1-9), Jesus tells a parable about a barren fig tree. The owner of the fig tree is frustrated. The tree has been there for three years without bearing any fruit.
The parable is a parable of God’s mercy. Even though we may not bear fruit as much as we could, God is still willing to work with us and in us so that we may bear fruit in spreading the Good News and in sharing God’s love in Jesus Christ.

THE LORD IS COMPASSION AND LOVE

Can God be that merciful? It is God’s choice to be so. When we hear the story of the call of Moses in our first reading from Exodus (3:1-8a, 13-15), Moses asks God what to call Him when the people ask, “What is his name?” God replies, “I am who am. This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.” The same God who is the Source of all being is the same One who freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and is the same One who continues to show us mercy and love.

THE LORD DOES DEEDS OF JUSTICE

But this parable also presents us with a few challenges. It implies that even though God is merciful, we should not abuse our relationship with Him. We ought not to take God’s mercy for granted. As St. Paul says in our second reading from 1 Corinthians (10:1-6, 10-12), “Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.”

INTENSIFY YOUR LENT
During this holy season of Lent, we are trying to re-sensitise our souls to the things of God, the things of the Spirit.  We do this by intensifying our prayers  and devotions,  by making more time and more space in our busy lives for the Lord.  By relying less on the sybaritic props and comforts of life, we can reasonably expect to be brought into closer contact with the holiness of God.

SEEKING GOD’S HOLINESS

God’s holiness is of course way beyond our ability to grasp in all its fullness. Even in heaven it will surpass our comprehension. Yet we must take heart. Here on earth, although the realm of the Spirit is largely veiled from us, if we are leading a serious and consistent spiritual life, we can hope to become more sensitive, more deeply attuned, to that hidden and mysterious characteristic of God which we call ‘holiness’.

May we trust in God’s mercy, and show mercy to others. May we open ourselves to God’s love in Jesus Christ, and may that love bear fruit in us.

Osho