Sharing of life: What are you most and least grateful for this week?

Facilitator reads focus statement: In the first reading, God reveals his name and compassionate nature to Moses. In the second and third readings, there is a call to repentance and ongoing conversion. For all those preparing for baptism (the elect) and for Full Communion with our church (candidates), Lent is a period of Purification (from sin) and Enlightenment (in God's ways). But all of us are called to purify ourselves of sin and open our hearts to the Spirit's enlightenment. The Gospels for the next three Sundays focus on repentance, ongoing conversion and God's mercy.

If you have not read the commentary on the reading, consider reading it after each reading.

FIRST READING: Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15

When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, Moses was a fugitive, having murdered a man in Egypt some years previously. Now he is married and is a shepherd of his father-in-law's flock. God identifies himself as the God of Moses' ancestors - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God also tells Moses that he has heard the cry of his suffering people in Egypt and that he intends to free them. (Unfortunately omitted from today's passage is Moses' actual call. "Come now! I will send you ..." v. 10, and God's reassurance to Moses that he will be with him during his mission, v. 12). Moses asks God his name. God answers, "I am, who I am" - a name that defies accurate definition. A possible translation is: "I am Someone who will be with you and for you no matter what."

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 103

This psalm of thanksgiving recounts God's goodness to Moses and the Israelites and God's desire to deliver the oppressed.

SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12

In this reading Paul warns the Corinthians (and us) not to equate election (being chosen) with salvation. Their ancestors received many blessings from God, yet most did not follow his ways. Then Paul in a daring and remarkable act of creative interpretation reads back into Israel's history the presence of Christ, the Rock, and sees in the waters of the Red Sea and the desert manna prefigurements of the sacraments of baptism and Eucharist. While traveling through the desert, the Israelites received many spiritual blessings (sacraments in a way) and yet they fell away from God. Paul reminds the Corinthians that despite the salvation they have received through the sacraments of baptism and Eucharist, they must work at continuous conversion lest they perish like their ancestors. Failure to heed God's call to ongoing conversion will bring dire consequences.

GOSPEL: Luke 13:13-19

Today's Gospel makes reference to two disasters, which Jesus is asked to comment on. The people asking Jesus to comment seemed to believe that bad things happened to the victims because they were sinners. The absence of bad things in the questioners lives implied that they were righteous and not in need of repentance.

Jesus quickly sets his questioners straight on this issue: "Bad things didn't happen to the victims in either incident because they were unrighteous or bad people. And the absence of bad things in your lives does not mean that you are not in need of repentance. Indeed you are." Jesus says: "You are all in need of repentance and if you do not repent, you will perish." The unrepentant will suffer a fate worse than the victims of the disaster. Jesus uses the two terrible events as a metaphor for the catastrophic ending that awaits those who refuse to repent. Jesus is saying the big tragedy in life is not being abused or killed accidentally. Rather, true tragedy rests in the hearts of each of us and our capacity to reject God's call to repentance and a change of heart.

Jesus is saying to his audience and to us: "Don't be preoccupied with why bad things happen to people. Rather, be concerned about the condition of your own soul." When people are tragically killed, it is indeed awful. But, in Jesus' mind, a worse tragedy is a mind and heart closed to God. No one can afford to be spiritually complacent.

Then Jesus tells the parable of the Fig Tree, sometimes called "The Parable of the Second Chance." The owner of the fig tree notices that it is bearing no fruit, so he wants to cut it down. The vinedresser asks that it be given one more chance. "Sir, leave it for another year." The fig tree represents Israel. The Vinedresser represents God. Just as the gardener is patient with the fig tree, so is God patient with sinners. In his youth, Moses killed a man, but God didn't write him off. God saw immense potential in this former murderer and called him to carry out a great mission. Church history is full of examples of barren fig trees that, in time, became fruitful, e.g., Paul, Augustine, Thomas Merton. But the parable also makes it clear that time may run out on the unrepentant. If people refuse chance after chance to turn their lives around, God will not quit on them, but they will, by deliberate choice, shut themselves out of God's Kingdom. This parable calls us to be fruitful trees in God's Vineyard.

FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

1. In the first reading, Moses encounters God in a burning bush. The poet Elizabeth B. Browning once said; "Earth is crammed with heaven and every bush is afire with God". How do you experience God in the beauty of this world? Have you ever experienced God in a most unlikely place or setting?

2. In the second reading, Paul reminds us that the Israelites received many spiritual blessings from God and yet they failed to be faithful to him. Our reception of the sacraments is no guarantee that we are being faithful to God. There is always need for ongoing conversion. What helps you from falling into the trap of 'spiritual smugness'?

3. The gospel is a clear call to repentance 'lest we perish'. What can help you (or others) to see what unchristian thoughts, words or deeds you may need to repent of?

4. How is your Lent coming? Are you cultivating your spiritual life and trying to weed out the sin in your life?

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

For the next three Sundays, our church will be celebrating the Rite of Scrutiny with those who will be baptized at Easter. But, all of us need to scrutinize our lives, i.e., search out where there are still pockets of collusion with the powers of darkness, pockets of resistance to God and his call to repentance and where there is need for enlightenment. This week begin your preparation for a good Lenten celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation by asking the Holy Spirit to point out areas of sin in your life, to face and name attitudes and behaviors that are contrary to Jesus and his gospel.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION

Especially pray for the grace of true contrition and repentance for yourself and for all who are away from God and church. Pray for all who are preparing for baptism and entry into our church. ©

Please Note: If you belong to a parish that celebrates the Rites of Scrutiny, you may attend a Mass the next three weekends that will have the readings from Cycle A. When a Rite of Scrutiny is celebrated normally Cycle A readings are used.