Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Lent

This third Sunday of Lent focuses on the theme of second chances. In our first reading, we encounter a bush that is engulfed in flames yet remains unburned. In the Gospel passage, there is a fig tree that bears no fruit and is destined for destruction, much like young George Washington's cherry tree, but it is saved by the gardener. In both instances, where we might expect destruction, we instead discover new opportunities for growth, care, and flourishing.

Over the centuries, the goodness of God, which always offers us another chance, has not been proclaimed as strongly as it should be. Too often, we have focused on God's justice as if it were a one-time ultimatum: shape up or ship out. This perspective can be seen in today’s second reading, where Paul appears to argue that God punished the chosen people for their complaints and infidelity.

Paul was a tough individual, and for him, commitment to Christianity was no trivial matter. He recognized the suffering and sacrifices that many endured for the Gospel, so he worked diligently to teach the people of Corinth that the commitment demanded by the Gospel might require everything they had. However, his interpretation of why the Israelites perished in the desert should be viewed alongside the second chances presented in the other readings, especially in the Gospel.

During Lent, we, as believers, enter a sacred time and explore the holy space within ourselves, where the fire of God’s love should burn brightly. These weeks provide us an opportunity to re-evaluate our values, family history, commitment, fidelity, and growth so we can determine the best ways to grow old with God. This often requires confronting our sinful behaviors and making choices to change our lives. We can only embrace this process when we trust that the fire of God’s love is not about destruction, but rather about compassion, forgiveness, and second chances.

May this Eucharist nurture the foundations of our lives and serve as a moment for us to reflect honestly on the fruitfulness of how, as a reflection of Christ's light within us, we live out our faith in our marriages, at home, at work, and in the world.