Walking with Jesus: Third Sunday of Lent C

For Sunday, March 23, 2025

Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9


I have been asked this question a few times: “Tell me what your God is like. Is He kind, merciful, forgiving, rude, vengeful? What is He like?”

Have you ever been asked this? I think this is a great question not to avoid — not to respond, “I don’t know,” or dismiss it by saying, “It's too difficult, I’m not a theologian” — or saying, “That is way above my pay grade.” Could the question be from God Himself, encouraging me to reflect on how big God has been to me? How He rescued me from deep, troubling situations I found myself in? Am I afraid to share my encounters with God?

In reflecting on today’s readings, we see one major theme emerging: the incomprehensibility of God. We see this in Exodus where Moses encounters God’s voice from the area of the burning bush, calling him: Moses, Moses … take off your sandals … this is holy ground. Then the voice reveals His identity: “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.” Moses is afraid to look. Now we come to the difficulties. There are two mountains implied — Sinai and Horeb. Which is the right one? We don’t know. Certainly theology, not geography, is the issue. “This holy ground” — why is it holy? Because of the ground? No — because it is a place of divine revelation. Why? Because the God who speaks is the very God who spoke to Moses’ ancestors. So God is not limited by territorial boundaries. And where Moses is now is the land of the Midianites, a region today consisting of the areas of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and Egypt.

Now Moses was born in Egypt and will lead the people to another land, Canaan. And as for the confusions, Moses asks God’s name because if God is doing something new in freeing an enslaved people, old titles will require a new name or title. God gives a “new” name which will announce all the mighty deeds He is about to perform. But the new name is both clearly grasped and difficult to understand: It means, “I AM always.” And “this” God is different: Rather than staying aloof from the people, this God is a part of the people. We can read through past stories of how God relates to people and relatives of Moses. This is the way God will be remembered through all generations. God is always available to His people and is always leading them to a home, Heaven, that they know nothing about — to a Promised land of “milk and honey” which will be their home, but not where God’s home is … and God is always with them. Confusing? Definitely. What is needed? Faith in God. This still is what we need today.

The Responsorial Psalm 103 says it all, beginning with a summons to bless the Lord for all that God has done and continues to do for each of us, forever and for all ages. Our response? “The Lord is kind and merciful.” Thank you, Lord … be still and know that God is good and forgiving.

The people of Corinth feel that they are spiritually superior. Paul repeatedly has to remind them that life is a gift, given by God, to be shared and to lead the people constantly in God’s love. So he uses a form of teaching that equates the Corinthians with the Jews wandering in the desert. Like the Jews they are on a special journey, discovering and learning from God. Also like the Jews, they could be on troubled ground in continuing to rely on themselves, feeling they can provide all the help that is needed. Paul’s main instruction is the efficacy of sacrament life: Baptism and the eucharist are the means of union with God, and they do not work automatically. The Israelites were immersed (baptized) in the waters of the sea ... they were fed with bread from heaven (eucharist) and water from the rock … elements that have spiritual origins. Yet this generation was unfaithful and did not make it to the Promised Land because “God was not pleased with most of them for they were struck down in the desert … these things happen as an example for us.” [1 Corinthians 10:5-6] Are we listening? God’s ways are not our ways — but God’s ways are the only ways.

Jesus, in the tradition of the prophets, is pleading, exhorting, teaching the Corinthians God’s ways and reminding them of the deadly violence Pilate has unleashed on the Galilean people who have become overconfident. “But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did.” [Luke 13:3]

Luke tells us that Jesus is reminding us all the time not to take for granted the time we have. All stand in as much mercy as those who die suddenly. Too late is just that — too late! God gives us one chance after another. We fail to repent and bear the fruits of repentance at great external cost — our time in heaven with God — forever.

So I reflect on:

• Do I recall a time when I was diverted from God by a curiosity, like Moses, that led to an encounter with God? Was it God? Yes. I reflect on how God changed my life. Do I let God be God to me?
• In looking at my times with God, He might be wanting to reveal His very self to me. Do I let Him?

Sacred Space 2025 states:

“During Lent we are invited to reflect on the really important things in life. Our allotted life span is always an unknown. Only God sees the bigger picture of our lives. Our time on earth is indeed a time of grace to prepare for an eternity of happiness but this time is made up of a series of nows, of moments, none of which will ever come again. ‘Carpe Diem! Seize the day!’ In the Gospels we are frequently called to watch and pray! Let us do so now.

“The sudden death of friends and the experience of life-threatening illnesses and accidents are all reminders that our sojourn on earth is temporary. Both Jesus and His Father are continually at work in our lives. Let us make good use of the opportunities that are being given to us.”