Ex 3:1-8,13-15; Ps 102(103); 1 Cor 10:1-6,10-12; Lk 13:1-9
Bear “Good” Fruits
Dear friends, today is the third Sunday of Lent and the 19th day of this season. We are coming to the middle of this critical period of our Christian practices. We must pause to reflect deeply on how we are keeping the Lenten observances so far. Are you praying more? Are you fasting anything? Are you helping anyone in need?
In the first reading today, we encounter the first instance in the Bible where God reveals his name to a human being. Before this revelation, the Israelites addressed God by his qualities such as Elohiym (the mighty one), El Shaddai (God Almighty), and Adonai (Lord). Even after the revelation to Moses, Israel never dared call God directly but used euphemisms like YAHWEH for I AM WHO I AM (Self-existent nature). Biblical scholars debate the question of whether it was Moses who did not know God’s name or the Israelites. Some say that it was Moses (because he was brought up in the Egyptian royal Court) and therefore he wanted to know the name of God in case the Israelites would ask him as proof of his claim that God had sent him.
God introduces himself to Moses as the God of the forefathers of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, at Moses’ insistence, God gave this strange name, and Moses was more confused and continued to ask for other signs. The name “I AM WHO I AM” is a translation from the Hebrew word Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh that has a variety of interpretations because of the peculiar nature of tenses in the Hebrew language. Therefore, Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh could also mean, “I will be who I will be” “I am the existing one” or “I am without equal”.
Our God is merciful and does not delight in the suffering of the people that he created in his own image and likeness. Therefore, in every generation, God calls someone from among his people so that through them he may carry out his plan. You and I have been called through baptism to be the heralds of God’s love and mercy to others. Through Christ, we have been justified to call God ‘ABBA” father. Let us, like Moses, accept our call to be the light to those in darkness even if we have our own defects. Let us also listen to those anointed to lead us to salvation. However, you must be always vigilant because there are so many fake prophets who are deceiving many.
In the second reading, St. Paul alludes to the history of the Israelites who suffered the consequences of complaining to Moses and to God. He says that these things were written down as a testimony for us so that we may learn from the mistakes of our ancestors. In our world today, many tragedies happen because of us not learning from past mistakes. Wars going on in different parts of the world are a concrete example that the world does not learn from past mistakes. Do you take lessons from your own past mistakes or the mistakes of others?
In the Gospel passage, Jesus urges us not to be quick to judge others as more sinful than us just because they suffered misfortune. Sometimes we do not apply the message of the scriptures to our own lives but to the lives of others whom we think are sinners. People say in their hearts: “I hope he/she is listening to what the preacher is saying”. Are you in this group?
If we do not give fruits of our calling, we will have ourselves to blame when the reckoning time comes. The owner of the fig tree had waited patiently for three years without getting fruits from it. He wanted to cut it down because it was occupying the space for nothing. However, at the request of the gardener, the owner extends his patience for one more year. We are the fig trees that are planted in the vineyard of the Lord here on earth. We are to give fruits according to the potential that God has bestowed upon each one of us. Let us not take for granted the patience of God. Through his sacrifice, Jesus is buying us time to repent and transform our lives according to God’s will. Let us use the opportunities we have wisely.
Dear friends, through Christ God has revealed to us his love and mercy. His passion and death eliminated God’s wrath upon us. God is also very patient with us his children. we cannot afford to waste the opportunity we have on earth to amend our ways. Let’s start bearing fruit today.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 