Third Sunday of Lent Reflection
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FROM THE PULPIT
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT – YEAR C
SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 3: 1-8, 13-15; PSALM 103;
1 CORINTHIANS 10: 1-6, 10-12; LUKE 13:1-9.
REFLECTION: REPENTANCE
Fr. Benoit Mukamba, C.S.Sp.
God’s mercy is infinite but a human's earthly life, during which he/she can obtain that mercy, is very short and limited. Our merciful God can forgive sins no matter how grievous, but God cannot forgive even less serious sins unless the sinner is sorry and asks for forgiveness. Twice in today’s Gospel the Lord Jesus says “But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they do”.
In the story of Moses at the burning bush, God showed him mercy by revealing his plan of salvation and himself to a sinful Moses. For Moses had murdered an Egyptian and escaped to the land of Midian. Moses hid his face in acknowledgement of his sinful condition before the Holy God. This encounter with God makes Moses realize God’s forgiveness of his sins. God has made Moses acceptable before Him. Consequently, Moses welcomed God’s invitation to be coworker with Him in saving the Israelites. Moses’ courage to return to Egypt must have been founded on his faith in the compassionate and almighty God who disclosed Himself as “I am who I am” (He who causes to be; the one who makes all that exists), the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Above all, God assured Moses that He will be with him.
The Christians of the Church in Corinth were warned of their false security and complacency. They had lost the place of the “Not yet” in the act of salvation. Just as in our Christian living today, the graces received in the sacraments of the Church prepare and propel us to the eternal salvation which is still to be revealed to us. The death of Christ for us opened the doors of paradise for all who believe and follow Christ Jesus during their present lives so that our salvation may be complete when the Lord Jesus comes in glory.
The Gospel presents the message of repentance unequivocally, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish”. From 2010 to 2019, 629,898 legal induced abortions were reported to CDC. Do we think these unborn children who were killed were more sinners than ourselves? No. But unless we repent, we will not enter the Kingdom of God. Those who lose their properties and lives in natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and storms, are they more sinful than us? No. But, God warns us that we may repent and live. Every day we wake up well, we should consider it an opportunity and a grace that God has granted us to turn to Him and be acceptable to God. For Jesus Christ is our mediator and intercessor to the Father; He wishes that all of us may enter his kingdom and rejoice forever with him.
Let us pray that the grace of God we receive daily in the sacraments and in His Word may help us to work for the confirmation of our eternal salvation.