Third Sunday of Lent (March 24. 03. 2019)

1^st Reading  - Ex. 3:1-8a,13-15

Psalm – 103:1-2,3-4,6-7,8,11

2^nd Reading – 1Cor 10:1-6,10-12

Gospel – LK 13 – 1-9

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Ps 145.8)

Season of Lent gives us the good news that our heavenly Father is waiting for our return to Him with repentance and renewed life for He doesn’t want any of His children remain in a state of sin, for sin leads to enslavement and death.  Jesus began his public ministry with the invitation to “repent and believe in good news” (Mk 1:15). He rejoices over our conversion with the change of heart. “I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Lk 15:10)

The liturgical readings of this Sunday speak of God’s mercy and compassion.  At the same time there are indications of disciplining with occasional punishment by God for those stay in repeated sins with stubborn and heard heart ignoring the invitation of God. 

The responsorial psalm speaks of God’s mercy: "He pardons all your iniquities; He heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction; He crowns you with kindness and compassion…. “ (Ps.130). While the Lord is gracious and merciful, abounding in steadfast love, the psalmist says he is slow to anger. (Ps 145.8). God is merciful also he is just and demanding.

Paul found the Christian community of Corinth with the sins of sexual perversion and idolatry and thus, reminds them that the Israelites were punished for not being to faithful and pleasing God.   Jesus wanted that the disasters were the signs inviting for change of life.  Through the parable of barren fig tree he also warns that the merciful God will not put up with us indefinitely.  He says: "… unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

Lent is a favourable time to repent without procrastinating and return to the Lord with the contrite heart and renewed fruit bearing life and thus avoid the anger of God upon us.

At this point let us take to heart what Pope Francis said in his homily on 28^th February 2019, “we are not eternal, we cannot think of doing whatever we like, trusting in the infinite mercy of God. Don't say: "God's compassion is great, he'll forgive me my many sins", and so I continue doing what I want.   "Don’t wait to convert yourself to the Lord, don’t postpone it from day to day because the anger of the Lord will suddenly burst forth."

 By - Rev. Fr. Maria Arul CMF

arulcmf@gmail.com