TAKE CARE NOT TO FALL - 3RD SUNDAY OF LENT (3/20/2022)

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
March 20, 2022

Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15
Psalm 103
1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12
Luke 13:1-9

TAKE CARE NOT TO FALL
 
"Remove your sandals! Take care not to fall! Repent or you will likewise perish." Sobering messages all, on this Third Sunday of Lent. The word of God challenges us today to respect the holiness of God!

EXODUS

Our first reading is the account of Moses' encounter with the Lord in the burning bush. When Moses approached, God spoke, "Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." The Lord identifies himself as "the God of your fathers - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." Moses hid his face out of holy fear and reverence. 

The Lord discloses his plan to rescue the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and lead them to "a land flowing with milk and honey." When Moses asks the Lord's name, the Lord tells him to say, "I AM sent me to you."

In this account, Moses receives a revelation of both the holiness and majesty of God, as well as the Lord's compassion and salvation. Psalm 103, our Responsorial, praises God for his mercy and kindness.

GOSPEL

How are we to understand catastrophes - both natural and man-made? Jesus is asked about the Galileans executed at Pilate's order and the eighteen people who died as a result of a falling tower in Siloam.

Jesus rejects the idea that this was a direct personal punishment for those who were killed. But he does use the occasion to issue a warning: Continuing in sin will end tragically - in this life and in the next. It seems that this is a prophetic prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem by Roman troops in 70 AD.

1 CORINTHIANS 

In the second reading, St. Paul recalls the Exodus from Egypt under Moses. All the Israelites had the same experience of passing through the Red Sea, being led by the cloud (God's guidance and protection), eating manna in the desert, and drinking water from the rock that God miraculously provided. However, with most of them God was not well pleased. They died before reaching the Promised Land.

Paul warns us to keep away from all evil desires, as well as grumbling and complaining. (Am I the only one convicted by that?)

We can be humble and hopeful based on the Lord's love and grace, but never overconfident in ourselves. "Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall."

BETWEEN EXTREMES

Our readings today are very well-suited to our Lenten observance. We are reminded of God's transcendent holiness and "otherness." In this day of casual informality, there is a distinct danger of relating to God without sufficiently realizing his utter transcendence. We always have to steer between two extremes: informality bordering on irreverence on the one hand, and an anxious fearfulness on the other. Likewise, we have to steer between utter discouragement and disgust at our weakness and sinfulness on the one hand, and a proud arrogance in our own abilities on the other.

We need to keep two truths in the right balance ever before us: "The Lord is kind and merciful" and "If you do not repent, you will all perish as they did." Let us pray today for the grace of the Holy Spirit to do that.