3rd Sunday in Lent (C) 23rd March 2025
A Reflection by: FR SIJI JOSE, SSP, SOCIETY OF ST PAUL. -- On this third Sunday of Lent year C, the readings invite us to reflect deeply on our relationship with God and His call for conversion and repentance. Another interesting factor we notice as we go through these readings especially Gospel that every year, first two Sundays of Lent the gospel readings are linked with specific events in the life of Christ: the first Sunday we have the temptations of Christ after his baptism at the river Jordan and the second Sunday was the Transfiguration on the mountain. But this the third Sunday of Lent, though, is not so much cantered on an event in Christ’s life, but is concerned with Jesus’ teaching on the patience, mercy and love of our God. In our first reading narrates the personal encounter of Moses with God, who appeared to him in the burning bush, on the mountain of Lord. As reading narrates, Moses standing before the burning bush, God calls him to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. It was a least expected call from Yahweh that he was to go back to Egypt apparently on an impossible task to free his people from Pharaoh's slavery. At first, Moses is hesitant, feeling unworthy of the task. However, God reassures him, saying, “I AM WHO I AM”—a reminder that God is eternal, unchanging, and always present. This moment is not just about Moses; it is about God's deep concern for His people. He sees their suffering, hears their cries, and comes to rescue them. This is the heart of our faith: God is not distant but is actively involved in our lives, calling us to freedom from whatever enslaves us—sin, fear, or doubt. In today’s Gospel passage is set in background of Jesus’ journey towards Jerusalem, where he addresses current events/tragedies and shares a parable to emphasize the urgency of repentance and produce its fruits. People informed Jesus about Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices. And then Jesus tells them a second shocking tragedy, known to his hearers, about a tower that has fallen on innocent bystanders, killing eighteen of them. Jesus challenges the assumption that these victims were more sinful than others. he rejects the idea that suffering is always divine punishment and instead calls everyone to repentance. Jesus further adds that if his hearers did not repent, they too would perish. Sin is the cause of all human suffering and sorrow. there is only one real tragedy worth fearing and it is to die unrepentant. Therefore, Jesus tells us hasten to repent lest that final tragedy overtakes us. It is not enough to avoid evil in order to be saved our life. Every day, every single day of it must yield fruit, real fruit in God’s eyes. The second part of today's Gospel stresses this point through a parable, the parable of the Fig Tree. In the parable there is a moving dialogue between the owner of the vineyard and the farmer who is looking after it. The tree was a symbol of the people of Israel. God had chosen them from among all the nations and looked after it with loving care. And yet the only fruit it yielded was the bitter fruit of sin and rebellion. Repentance is not just about avoiding sin but also about bearing fruit—living a life that reflects God’s love, mercy, and justice. A tree that does not bear fruit is useless. Likewise, a Christian who does not produce the fruits of faith, kindness, and service is not fulfilling their purpose. The good fruit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23). And the greatest fruit produced is love and forgiveness toward all. We are only able to do this by the grace of God. May God’s grace come abundantly into our lives today and throughout this Lenten journey. The Lord has promised to be at our side in good times and bad, in joy and in sorrow, and in this we can take great delight, for our God will never abandon us.
