Reflections on Sunday’s Readings: March 3, 2013

This is the Third Sunday in Lent. How is the “way” of Christ beckoning us? What wastes away life within us and prevents us from bearing fruit is sin. Repentance, then, means choosing to nurture new life and all the fullness it can bring. Sometimes we’re not so much heinous sinners, as sort of “stuck,” like the fig tree: there, but not doing much. In our work of repentance our “gardener” God shows us patience and assists us in every way.

Repenting, thankfully, isn’t done in isolation, and frequently the people around us can reflect back to us behaviors we need to change. Repentance is an attitude of relationship – we get information (and sometimes support) from others, and we receive God’s compassion which strengthens us to change our behaviors and follow more closely the way of Christ. How is God calling me to “repent” – what behaviors need to change so that new life can emerge? How can I come to recognize the ways God is trying to nurture life in me?

Readings for this Sunday:

• Ex 3: 1-8.13-15. I will come down and rescue my people. What name shall we call you? You will know me by who I am and what I do.
• 1 Cor 10: 1-6.10-12. The things that happened to our ancestors are examples for us. Just as God offered every means for coming to new life to the people of Israel; so, too, Jesus offers us every means for coming to new and fruitful life.
• Lk 13: 1-9. Change is required or you will not survive. God’s purpose is to help us live and become fruitful.

Happenings this weekend:

• Please check the Lent schedule for opportunities for prayer this week.
• We will pray the first “Scrutiny” with the elect entering into full communion with us on Easter at 5:30 liturgy. Fr. Jim Hackett will be presiding.