March 20 - Third Sunday in Lent

(Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15; 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12; Lk 13:1-9)

Paul recounts the Exodus from Egypt in his letter to Corinthians. And he identifies Christ as the spiritual rock that followed them through the desert and from which they all drank, even though the Israelites knew nothing of him at the time. But Paul's focus is on how most of them fell into sin and died in the desert. Paul says this as a warning to remain faithful and turn away from sin. He warns against complacency by saying “whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.”

In today's Gospel the people ask Jesus for his reaction to a recent killing of some Galileans by Pilate. They wanted to know what these Galileans might have done to bring about such misfortune. Jesus warns the people that it could just as easily have been them, if they do not repent. Jesus emphasizes the point by citing the collapse of a tower at Siloam that killed eighteen people. Again he reminds the people that they also will perish if they do not repent. Life can be fleeting, snuffed out in an instant. That we have survived when others have perished is not necessarily evidence that we are especially good. Jesus then tells them a parable about a fig tree that was not producing fruit. When the owner of the vineyard wants to cut it down, the gardener advocates for a second chance for this fig tree. But chances for redemption do not go on forever. Even the gardener admits that if the fig tree still does not produce fruit after another year of tender care, then it should be cut down to make way for more productive plants. This is yet another call for repentance.

• When we hear about misfortunes of others, like the death of a child, loss of a job, financial ruin, sickness, or divorce, we may try to reassure ourselves that it won't happen to us by identifying a reason we can blame for their misfortune. Have you ever done that? If so, how did that affect your relationship with those that have suffered?
• Paul's letter to the Corinthians and today's Gospel both suggest complacency is an obstacle to repentance. Name some other obstacles to repentance and how they might be removed.
• When someone has offended us, do we give them a second chance as did the gardener in the parable?