The Lord Jesus ascends into heaven, not to distance us from his help, but rather to empower us to grow in grace and stature as we face the challenging transitions of life.
Here are some of the main themes in the readings for the 3rd Sunday of Lent.
1st Reading – Exodus 3:1-8a,13-15
Moses encounters the Lord who speaks from the burning bush.
God announces the plan to save the people of Israel from their bondage in Egypt and will be called “I AM” when the people ask Moses what is God’s name.
Psalm – 103:1-4,6-8,11
“The Lord is kind and merciful.”
God is merciful and gracious, healing, redeeming and pardoning our sins.
2nd Reading – 1st Corinthians 10:1-6,10-12
St. Paul recounts part of the mistakes of the people of Israel as they fled Egypt.
We are encouraged to learn from this and seek what is good as we follow Jesus Christ.
Gospel – Luke 13:1-9
Jesus speaks to the people, encouraging them to repent.
The Lord then offers a parable about cultivating a fruitful life, and he includes a warning if we neglect our growth.
Note: These are the readings for “Year C” in the Lectionary for Mass. On the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent, parishes may use the “Year A” readings at Masses that includes members of the RCIA process.
Jesus teaches the disciples that we will know a tree by its fruit, and this insight can be applied to the state of our spiritual lives and our relationships with one another.
Moses becomes radiant through his encounter with God. The image helps us understand how the more we dwell upon Lord’s presence in our lives, the more we are transformed…for the good!
The Gospel reveals that growth and knowledge often take time to develop. This process of maturity reminds us that our own spiritual life requires a steady discipline of commitment over the entire course of our lives.
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