|
|
“A Just and Merciful God” 3rd Sunday of Lent C Ex 3:1-8, 13-15, Lk 13:1-9 1. Human Situation We live amidst a spiral of violence. So many people die
in our society. There is violence that is
inflected on the unborn. There is also the violence
caused by poverty and injustice. It may be bloodless but it can cause death –
due to malnutrition or sickness. There is the violence of those who want to change
society. There is also the violence of
those who want to protect the state. There is the vindictive violence of
capital punishment. What is the gripping the city
at present is the violence of the Death Squads.
Petty criminals are summarily executed by order of those who are supposed to
maintain law and order. John Paul II refers to this as the culture of death. Whenever these things happen,
we ask: is this the will of God? Is this divine punishment? There are people who look at
God as the great punisher. They think of God as a harsh judge who immediately
punishes sinners and wrong-doers. 2. The Word of God The first reading from the book of Exodus tells us that
oppression, suffering and death are not willed by God. God is merciful whose
will is the liberation of people from everything that oppresses and
dehumanizes them – from all form of evil caused by sin. In our Gospel, Jesus also makes it clear that violence
and death is not the handiwork of God, neither are they punishment for
sinners. Human beings – like Pilate -- are responsible for violence,
suffering and death. Jesus reminds us that God is merciful. God is not quick
to punish people, God always give them a chance – a chance to repent and be converted , a chance to change their ways. 3. Challenge for Us The season of lent is a time for us to look into
ourselves and
respond to Christ’s call to repentance and conversion. We also need to look at our society and respond to the
call to transform it so that the culture of death and the spiral of violence
are eradicated and mercy, justice and peace will prevail. |