None of us are perfect as we are all sinners. Given that scenario, how do we stand a chance of being rewarded the promise of eternal life with the unpredictability of obstacles in our life such as diseases, violence and natural disasters in addition to our own culpability?
The best answer to this question is that God is on our side by the virtue He created us out of His love. We enhance that position by being Baptized and living, as best we can, a sacramental life based on our promise to love God and all He has created as Jesus loves us. How can we fail?
There are two immediate possibilities: One is our Free Will which gives a person an opportunity to choose the Way of the Lord or not; and the other, Sin Nature, which clouds one’s judgment in making a right choice. Both play major roles in our willingness or unwillingness to be obedient to God’s will.
God will not save us against our will or without our cooperation. He also does not punish people because of their bad behavior based on Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection to fulfill God’s New Covenant law. He does, however, expect us to repent of social sins which require us to be active in spreading the Good News of Jesus to all those in need.
Our readings from the Book of Exodus, St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians and St. Luke’s Gospel today are asking us to take a good look at ourselves in three different ways.
Moses was in awe of the burning bush and God speaking to him about being chosen to release the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Imagine the strength it took for this humble man who believed he was unworthy to face the Pharaoh of Egypt, a warrior leader. But God gave him all the tools he needed to take this action to free the Israelites and give glory to God.
In St. Paul’s letter, we are warned that even though God sent Moses to release the Israelites from slavery and take them to the Promised Land, many of them took issue with the way in which it was done. They constantly challenged Moses and God by doing evil and grumbling until God destroyed those who in their overconfidence disobeyed in the desert. It is an example for us of what is expected when God does everything out of His love and only asks us to acknowledge His goodness.
Jesus in St. Luke’s Gospel provides us with the ultimate answer to how we need to look at ourselves. Accept the fact that God created us out of His love with certain gifts. With this comes a calling to work wherever we are sent, trusting that God is there for us.
We in turn must recognize our own participation. We need to accept that God has fully prepared us to face into this world of evil. In doing so, we must push aside stumbling blocks that prevent us from choosing God. We need to repent by acknowledging that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand to avoid perishing as those who disobeyed. God is a God of second chances for those who are willing to repent. Let us make sure we don’t test God’s patience beyond what He is willing to give us.
Reading 1: Exodus 3: 1-8a, 13-15
Reading 2: First Corinthians 10: 1-6, 10-12
Gospel: Luke 13: 1-9
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