Today's Gospel Reading - Sunday, March 3, 2013 with Reflection

Third Sunday of Lent

1^ST READING - Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15

P S A L M

Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11
R: The Lord is kind and merciful.
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (R) 3 He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. 4 He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. (R) 6 The Lord secures justice and the rights of all the oppressed. 7 He has made known his ways to Moses, and his deeds to the children of Israel.  (R) 8Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. (R)

2^ND READING - 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Repent, says the Lord; the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Luke 13:1-9

1 Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. 2 Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? 3 By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! 4 Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them — do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? 5 By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” 6 And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, 7 he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ 8 He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;9 it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

SABBATH

A SECOND CHANCE How often do we give a person a second chance? The pedantic person will say that it is only possible once, as the next time we give them a chance it will be the third chance and not the second. Be that as it may, there comes a time when we have to put an end to repeated wrongs. This is not to say that we withhold forgiveness from anyone for their sins against us but we may have to end a relationship if the other person continually refuses to change or overcome a particular fault. Today’s parable allows the fig tree another year to produce good fruit. This is a simple example. What about the case of a woman being abused physically by her husband? How long is she obliged to remain with him if he shows no sign of change? The answer is that she is not obliged to remain with him. She can, and perhaps even should, leave him and get herself out of the abusive relationship. Does the woman sin in doing this? Of course not! No one is obliged to stay in harm’s way, no matter what the situation may be. Similarly, in many situations in life, it may not be practical to keep responding in the same way if the sinner shows no change in character. We have the right to protect ourselves from the harm that such people can and will cause if we do not stay away from them. St. Paul reminds us that unrepentant sinners are to be excluded from the community of the faithful. It is hard to cut ourselves off from someone, particularly if we have strong ties with that person. However, sometimes it is necessary not just for our own sanity and health, but for the sake of all those who depend on us. Jesus leaves some towns in disgust because they do not want to listen to His message. Why waste time on those who deliberately refuse to listen when there are others eager to hear the Gospel? Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you find it difficult to end relationships that need to be stopped? Do you stay too long in abusive relationships? Jesus, help me to know what my responsibilities are in my various relationships so that I can foster those that have potential and leave behind those that do not. St. Katharine Drexel, pray for us. Do you want to receive this in your email. To get Bo Sanchez to send it to you personally, register and log-on to http://kerygmafamily.com. Lots of surprises await.