DAILY- HOMILY

March 24, 2019 - 3rd SUNDAY OF LENT

Violet.

Ex 3: 1 – 8a, 13 – 15 / 1 Cor 10: 1 - 6, 10 – 12 / Lk 13: 1– 9.

FROM THE 1ST READING:             Ex 3: 2 – 8a

The Angel of Yahweh appeared to Moses by means of a flame of fire in the middle of a bush. Moses saw that although the bush was on fire it did not burn up. Moses thought, "I will go and see this amazing sight, why is the bush not burning up?"

Yahweh saw that Moses was drawing near to look, and God called to him from the middle of the bush, "Moses! Moses!" He replied, "Here I am." Yahweh said to him, "Do not come near; take off your sandals because the place where you are standing is holy ground." And God continued, "I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob."

Moses hid his face lest his eyes look on God. Yahweh said, "I have seen the humiliation of my people in Egypt and I hear their cry when they are cruelly treated by their taskmasters. I know their suffering. I have come down to free them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a beautiful spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

GOSPEL READING:           Lk 13: 1 – 9

One day some persons told Jesus what had occurred in the Temple: Pilate had Galileans killed and their blood mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus replied, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this? I tell you: no. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did.

"And those eighteen persons in Siloah who were crushed when the tower fell, do you think they were more guilty than all the others in Jerusalem?  I  tell you, no. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did."

And Jesus continued with this story, "A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard and he came looking for fruit on it, but found none. Then he said to the gardener: 'Look here, for three years now I have been looking for figs on this tree and I have found none. Cut it down, why should it use up the ground?' The gardener replied: 'Leave it one more year, so that I may dig around it and add some fertilizer, and perhaps it will bear fruit from now on. But if it doesn't, you can cut it down.'"

REFLECTION

For the season of Lent we are called to repentance and conversion. It is a time for us to examine ourselves if we are dealing with our own misgivings rather than blaming others for our own failures. It is also time to reassure ourselves that we have a compassionate and merciful God, always ready to forgive and give second chances.

In the first reading from Exodus God appears to Moses to inform him that he would save his people from slavery in Egypt and bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey. He has chosen Moses to lead his people out of Egypt.

The Gospel reading recalls two incidents of tragic deaths: Jesus warns his listeners that, unless they repented and changed their ways, they may meet similar disasters.

The parable of the barren fig tree portrays a season of relief and a chance to change and bear fruit, with proper care and maintenance. Lent gives  us a serious warning on the consequences of living in sin and the need for repentance and conversion. The call to repentance is something urgent and must be heeded daily in our lives. Jesus' call to repentance is not for a one- time one-shot change of heart but is for ongoing repentance and conversion in our lives.

Lent reminds us of our loving, compassionate and merciful God and Father. Let us approach God in gladness and offer him our thanksgiving for his continuing love and mercy. May we remain faithful to him always?

FINALLY, WE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ASKED OUR PRAYERS AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED OUR PRAYERS THE MOST. 

BIRTHDAY 

     Gerard Pierre Sykat

     Xandradel R. Cruz

     Benjie Senirez 

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY 

     Patrick & Billie Syling 

IN MEMORIAM (+) 

     Consuelo Cunanan (Mar. 24, 1914 - Jan 8, 1981)

     William Ang Lim (1949 - 2014)

Have a good day!

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   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

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