Third Sunday of
Lent
Readings:
Exodus: 3:1-8a
Psalm: 103
1Cor:10:1-6, 10-12
Luke 13:1-9
Have you ever questioned the goodness of God in the face of evil? Have you ever been tempted to blame others for their misfortunes, whether they deserve the blame or not? This questions are at the heart of the religious dilemma. Why does evil exist, God? Why don’t you do something about evil? Jesus answered those questions with other question. How long will we wait before we turn to God in hope, despite the evil that surrounds us?Vegetation of all different sorts makes frequent appearances in the scriptures; between the Tree of Life in Genesis and the Tree of Life in Revelation, there are mustard plants, vines, lilies, grass, oaks, palms, wheat and corn, olives and the fig tree, as in today's Gospel. Given that the natural world shows God's creative, loving power, it is fitting that it plays a part in the drama of sin and redemption. Beautifully, the leaves of the Tree of Life in Revelation are 'for the healing of the nations.
FIRST READING: Exodus 3,today reminds us of another very important type of plant in the history of salvation, the thorn. Although our text doesn't specify that the bush from which God speaks to Moses is a thorn bush, by the time Jesus was born this was an accepted fact in the story. The burning bush was a thorn bush, and it was from this lowly and harsh plant that God spoke to Moses, to reveal nothing less than his Name, and to begin the process of liberating his people from Egypt. God in the midst of the thorns.
PSALM: Psalm 103 is a hymn of blessing. The Song calls upon all of us to bless God for his goodness, not to ask for blessings. Instead of masked petitions (our blessings), it turns the notion of blessing into thanks and praise.
SECOND READING: In his first letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul drew a parallel between the Exodus and Christian sacraments of initiation. Both journeys lead from death to life, from bondage to freedom.
GOSPEL: In Luke’s gospel, Jesus answered the question “Why do bad things happen to good people?” According to the Master, we cannot presume the good are being punished for evil, or the evil are receiving their just ends. Instead, Jesus pointed to the mystery of God’s actions and the need for repentance.
At the time of Jesus, Jews believed that their fate was God's punishment for their sins; conversely, good Jews would escape such punishment. When those in the audience related news about his fellow countrymen, they assumed Jesus would agree that the fate of the Galileans matched their crimes. Through Pilate, God judged their actions swift and sure. But, Jesus compared the execution of the criminal with the tragedy of the innocent. So, Jesus preached otherwise. The bad were evil by choice. But, are the good were evil by presumption? Didn't the guilty and the innocent suffer the same fate?
Ultimately, Jesus implied, people cannot read the mind of God and understand his sense of justice. Nor should they try. Both the good and the evil suffer. God was God. And, his ways were mysterious.
People cannot understand why suffering exists, why divine providence works the way it does. But that does not mean they lack a means of action. The only option people have to face God's judgement was repentance: placing one's focus upon and trust in God.
The parable of the fig tree counterbalanced gloomy news with the hope that time had not completely run out. There was still time to change and that change should produce fruit. But the change would be painful and require help. The time to begin was now!
Not only was delayed judgment a glimmer of hope, the story implied the mediation of a helper. The gardener or vine dresser pleaded for a delay. So, Christians have always believed, Jesus interceded for the world with his Father. This was also part of the answer to the critic. Justice delayed allowed time for the sinner to repent and revealed the merciful mediation of God's only Son..