THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT (C)

The Need to be Reconciled with God

Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15; First Corinthians10:1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9

Aim:  to encourage (1) repentance for our sins and (2) timely and regular use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Today’s First Reading is from the Old Testament Book of Exodus, the story of Israel’s flight from Egypt under Moses, beginning around the year 1290 B.C.  The passage just read provides us with an insight into Moses’ vocation.  In it we find, for the first time, God’s proper name, revealed to Moses by God, present in the burning bush.  We usually pronounce the name Yahweh, a Hebrew verb that means “I am who am,” and which contains within itself a wealth of mystery.

Note that God’s name is a verb.  Someone has said that “God is a verb.”  A verb connotes activity.  God defines himself, therefore, as an act: not a Being simply for himself, but a Being who is outgoing for us.  To Moses’ question, “What is his name?”  God answers, in effect I am the One whom you will recognize by my mighty deeds in your behalf: by my guiding you from Egypt into the Promised Land and into a new covenant.

God’s final and perfect reply to Moses’ question is Jesus Christ.  In Jesus we see the supreme fulfillment of God’s acting in our behalf.  For Jesus went to the cross for us that we might be fully reconciled to God.  What is necessary, of course, is that we repent our sins and accept Christ as our Lord and Savior.

When we hear Jesus in today’s Gospel, from Luke, warning us not to postpone our renewal or conversion – since the hour can be later than we think – we hear God voicing this warning.  Jesus is God.  This Jesus has been sent to us by the Father to be our Savior, to lead us into a promised land by acquiring our freedom from sin, our liberation from the powers of evil; and to live with us forever.

We who know these things have a serious obligation to live by them, as Paul vigorously lectures the Corinthians in today’s Second Reading.  Paul reminds them, and us, to study the Exodus carefully again, and to learn from it.

Like the Israelites, we must acknowledge our plight; namely, that we are sinners in need of God’s mighty act of reconciliation.  Paul says that anyone who thinks himself sinless should watch out.

So we prepare for another good sacramental confession this Lent.  And we prepare now, readying ourselves not to let another week go by without immersing ourselves anew in the mystery of the supreme mighty work of God in history:  Jesus’ Cross and Resurrection, by which we are reconciled to God as his children, gifted with an eternal homeland.

On Ash Wednesday, when we began this Lenten season, the Second Reading at Mass read: “Now is the acceptable time!  Now is the day of salvation!” (2 Cor 6:2).  Will we make use of this unique time of grace to renew our contribution through a carefully prepared and made Lenten confession?  If so, the third and final visit of the divine Gardener – to recall today’s Gospel – may occur this very Lent.

Do we believe today’s Gospel, which tells us with infallible wisdom, that this Lenten confession may be our last?  Do we believe today’s Second Reading, which also tells us that anyone who thinks he is standing upright should watch out lest he fall?  It is always later than we suspect.