3rd Sunday of Lent - Year C

What we heard in today’s First Reading, from the Book of Exodus, is the story of Moses—a story we surely all know; I think there are few people who haven’t seen the famous film The Ten Commandments. Moses, whose name means "drawn from the water," was saved as a baby from the river. When he grew up and learned that he came from the Jewish people, who were enslaved by the Egyptians, he began to feel deeply for their suffering. At first, he tried to solve this injustice by himself and through violence—he killed an Egyptian man who was beating a Jewish slave. The next day, he realised he had been found out and had to flee.

Now far from his people, and feeling like a complete failure, he took up the humble work of a shepherd. In today’s reading, God calls Moses and sends him to rescue His people in God's name. At first, Moses makes many excuses to avoid going, but eventually he obeys, and although the mission involves much suffering, God saves the people of Israel through him.

It is striking that when God's people—and even Moses himself—had given up all hope, it was God who took the initiative to save His people. That’s why in the Psalm we responded together, “The Lord is kind and full of compassion.” Because truly, the Lord cares about us; He loves us with an immeasurable love—so much so that He gave His life for us on the cross. In return, He only asks one thing from us: that we love one another.

In today’s Gospel, we see clearly the belief held by the Jews at the time—that “God rewards the good and punishes the bad.” So when Pilate killed those Galileans who were offering sacrifices, the Jews believed it meant God was punishing them for some sin, whether theirs or their ancestors’. Jesus then refers to another tragedy of the time—the eighteen people killed when the tower of Siloam collapsed on them. Does this mean they were more sinful than others? “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just the same.”

This Lent, the Lord is giving us a special invitation to repentance. Do you feel the need to repent? Do you feel the need to change? If not, it’s likely that you’re in a state of sin without even realising it. The repentance that matters most to the Lord is the one that concerns our love for one another. Like the barren fig tree mentioned in today’s Gospel, the gardener—who represents Jesus—does everything he can so that we bear fruit. Therefore, if we fail to produce fruits of good works, of genuine love and forgiveness toward others, the blame is ours alone.

St Paul tells us in the Second Reading, “Whoever thinks he is standing strong should take care not to fall.” The best attitude for a Christian is to be aware that he is still a sinner—or more precisely, that he still does not love enough. That’s why we must strive and pray that God helps us to grow ever more in love, for otherwise we are Christians in name only.

We pray to you, Lord Jesus, grant us the grace to always feel the need to convert and to grow in love toward one another—for it is only in this way that we can truly become more like you. Amen.