14.03.2004 3rd Sunday of Lent - Year C
First Reading: Exodus 3,1-8,13-15 Psalm 102
Second Reading: I Corinthians 10,1-6,10-12 Gospel Reading: Luke 13,1-9
Who is God for us? Who are we for Him? What relationship can there be between
Him and us? Could these be the questions to which today's readings give an answer,
an answer which encourages us to accept and strengthen our link with God, that
link which began with our baptism? Don't let us forget that Lent is the time
for preparation of a renewal of our commitments made at baptism, so that we
can enjoy it's fruits with renewed awareness.
God manifested Himself to Moses. Having escaped from Egypt, he was tending animals
in the desert and had given up the notion of saving his people from slavery
to the Pharaoh and from the enmity which spared not even his brothers. He had
to admit that man could do nothing for man. He resigned himself to doing nothing,
but God did not! Injustice and the cries of the oppressed were seen and heard
by God who is neither insensible, nor distant, nor indifferent. He also saw
Moses' desire, who with his strength alone could do nothing, but with God far
more could be done than one could possibly imagine.
First of all, it was necessary to meet, to get to know each other, to form a
relationship. And so God appeared to Moses' eyes, ears and heart. Moses too,
showed himself to God, as if God didn't already know him!
Moses saw a fire burning without consuming. He heard a voice manifesting the
thoughts and the name of God. Moses' heart began to love that God who made Himself
known as the friend and protector of his ancestors, who had been a presence
in their lives. He was "I am that I am!", the One who accompanies
and listens and observes His people in order to save them.
While revealing Himself, God called. Moses now knew God's "feelings",
and could do nothing other than be at His disposition. But he also wished to
make himself known to God as one who knows that he is incapable and, therefore,
does not wish to be involved.
It is difficult, however, to convince God to leave us in our incapacity. He
knows that our strength is nothing, but He knows that His presence in us becomes
an overwhelming power: hence, He does not listen when we would like only to
be left in peace.
Moses, with God's name on his lips, went to work for Him, that is, for His people!
He may no longer think only of himself. That is what St Paul wishes for us,
not to desire "useless things", i.e. a selfish life, cheap well being
without a commitment of faith in God!
The people led by Moses through the desert towards freedom, grumbled, not trusting
in God, thinking that God was not taking care of them or, even, that He would
lead them to harm. They were always ready to complain, despite having had many
signs of His presence and mercy. Whoever does not have faith in God's love falls
victim to the terminator! It is not enough to consider oneself good, because
our goodness is incapacity: only the power of God in us keeps us on our feet!
This message had also to be learnt by the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They considered
themselves good, better than the Galileans killed by Pilate's soldiers in the
courtyard of the Temple, better than the eighteen who were buried when the tower
collapsed. They thought that whoever died a violent death, deserved it; they
must have been great sinners to deserve such punishment! Jesus teaches us not
to consider ourselves better than anyone! If you are not dead, thank God for
His patience; He is letting you live a little longer despite your sins. Furthermore,
your sin is great, the greatest of all: you see the Messiah and you do not convert
to him, you see the Son of God and do not listen to his Word, you see and hear
the Lord and do nothing to serve Him.
God's patience would already have run out, if it hadn't been for Jesus. He came
to remove the hatchet from the roots of the tree, John the Baptist would say.
The short parable from today's Gospel reading describes this service: Jesus
continues to ask the Father to give us another year, a year of grace and he
continues tirelessly in his passion to give us what we need so that we may bear
fruit in his kingdom. Through his Body, Jesus, in his saints and martyrs continues
the work of the passion and thus bears fruit, the sweet fruit of the fig tree,
which is knowing and observing the will of the Father for all the world to enjoy.
At that time, Jesus was obviously thinking of that tree which was his people,
but today that same parable refers to us! He is the fire which makes us burn
with love without being consumed, his is the voice which asks us to reveal his
name to men and women, so that they might know how much they are loved and the
holy freedom and joy there is in serving him! He himself will help us if we
will only let ourselves be involved by the love of God for all men and women
in need of light, of communion, of pardon, of salvation!