3rd Sunday of Lent

The first reading of our liturgy presents us with the account of the call/vocation of Moses. God called and chose him to lead the people of Israel from slavery, oppression and suffering in Egypt to the promise Land. In the process, Moses experienced the great sign of the burning bush that was not consumed. God revealed his name to Moses as, “I am.” Jesus is considered the new Moses sent by God to come and deliver us/the world from the slavery, oppression of sin/Satan.
 
Jesus in the gospel invites us to be ready because we do not know the time that our life may come to an end. Life is unpredictable and full of uncertainties and tragedies from accidents or sickness or other factors. Tragic events are never based on spiritual or moral character. Jesus teaches in the gospel about tragic events with the Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. This did not happen because they were greater sinners nor the 18 people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them. These 2 incidents are warning not to be comfortable or complacent in evil/sin. St. Paul describes the special privileges of the people of Israel, they all passed through the red sea, all baptized into Moses, all ate spiritual food, all drank from spiritual rock, CHRIST. “Yet God was not pleased with most of them...” 1 Cor 10:5. God is compassionate and slow to anger. Nevertheless, He requires righteousness. He desires a sincere respond to his call to repentance and conversion of heart. The day of reckoning or time of giving account is unknown. Unanticipated tragic events remind us that God does inescapably expect results, therefore, repent and reorder your lives to God’s expectation.
 
To conclude his teaching, Jesus told them/us a parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it, he found none.” After 3 years of waiting, he then instructed the gardener to cut it down but the gardener persuaded him to give it another year. God is the owner of the vineyard/orchard. The grace of God represents the gardener. We are expected to be productive in Christian life. The graces of God given to us through Baptism, the holy Body and Blood of Christ, Confession, Marriage (planted Seeds) should enable us to bear good fruit in our lives. God wants us to use the Christian vocation, life, spiritual gifts of grace, faith, love and hope, time, talents, skills, financial resources well, wisely and to bear fruit for God. Lent is a holy season for bearing much fruit through prayer, fasting, charity.
 
During this Lenten season, let us find time to examine our lives and see the areas we need conversion. May I refer you to The Word Among Us for Lent 2025, page 74 - 75 for a good examination of conscience.