Fr. Ciza Donatien, sx
Today we celebrate the third Sunday of Lent, Year C. The readings are: Exodus 3:1-8.13-15; 1Corinthians 10:1-6.10-12; Luke 13: 1-9.
God, our God, loves everybody. He does not like to see his people suffering. He does not like slavery, he likes freedom. In Egypt the people of Israel were suffering because of the wickedness of Pharaoh. God rose among them Moses to deliver his people: “I have seen the miserable state of my people in Egypt. I have heard their appeal to be free of their slave-drivers. Yes, I am well aware of their sufferings”: we can read these words in the first reading.
The problem of suffering has never been resolved, especially its origin. Why do people suffer? Some people thing that we suffer because we are sinners, considering the suffering as a punishment from God. But since the Old Testament, we notice that even the just can suffer. The book of Job is an eloquent example of this. God does not treat us according to our bad behaviour. He is God of love.
Jesus is clarifying this point: “Do you suppose those Galileans who suffered like that where greater sinners than any other Galileans?” Pilate, supposing that those Galileans were dissident with his regime, killed them in the temple while they were praying. They were doing good thing. But they were killed. That’s why for Jesus the best thing to do is to repent. Lent season is the best moment of conversion.
God will never want the suffering of his people. But he needs our collaboration. He wants us to be Moses for others. God sees the suffering of men and he intervenes sending Moses.
The action of God needs the collaboration of that God’s call. It is very necessary to answer to the call of God. More necessary again that the one who is suffering accepts to be rescued.
“Unless you repent you will perish as they did”. Humanity runs to its loss because it does not trust in God. Choosing confidence is to believe once and for all that the purpose of God is benevolent. This simple reversal of our hearts would change the face of the world.
Let us fight against the suffering of our brothers and sisters! Let us abolish any kind of slavery! Let us be Moses for the mere people!
Today we celebrate the third Sunday of Lent, Year C. The readings are: Exodus 3:1-8.13-15; 1Corinthians 10:1-6.10-12; Luke 13: 1-9.
God, our God, loves everybody. He does not like to see his people suffering. He does not like slavery, he likes freedom. In Egypt the people of Israel were suffering because of the wickedness of Pharaoh. God rose among them Moses to deliver his people: “I have seen the miserable state of my people in Egypt. I have heard their appeal to be free of their slave-drivers. Yes, I am well aware of their sufferings”: we can read these words in the first reading.
The problem of suffering has never been resolved, especially its origin. Why do people suffer? Some people thing that we suffer because we are sinners, considering the suffering as a punishment from God. But since the Old Testament, we notice that even the just can suffer. The book of Job is an eloquent example of this. God does not treat us according to our bad behaviour. He is God of love.
Jesus is clarifying this point: “Do you suppose those Galileans who suffered like that where greater sinners than any other Galileans?” Pilate, supposing that those Galileans were dissident with his regime, killed them in the temple while they were praying. They were doing good thing. But they were killed. That’s why for Jesus the best thing to do is to repent. Lent season is the best moment of conversion.
God will never want the suffering of his people. But he needs our collaboration. He wants us to be Moses for others. God sees the suffering of men and he intervenes sending Moses.
The action of God needs the collaboration of that God’s call. It is very necessary to answer to the call of God. More necessary again that the one who is suffering accepts to be rescued.
“Unless you repent you will perish as they did”. Humanity runs to its loss because it does not trust in God. Choosing confidence is to believe once and for all that the purpose of God is benevolent. This simple reversal of our hearts would change the face of the world.
Let us fight against the suffering of our brothers and sisters! Let us abolish any kind of slavery! Let us be Moses for the mere people!