Third Sunday of Lent
Over the last couple of years, I have been offering adult faith-formation series based on some of the great saints of the church. Thus far I have reflected on John of the Cross, Thérèse of Lisieux, Oscar Romero, and Francis of Assisi spanning from the 12th Century all the way to the 20th Century. Preparing for each of the series, reflecting on them, and delivering them has not only been a fascinating experience for me, but it has also been life-transforming. There is one thing that is common to every one of these Saint’s lives – a pivotal moment that changed the trajectory of their lives. For John of the Cross, it was his 9 months in prison imprisoned by his own brothers; for Thérèse of Child Jesus it was her ninth Christmas; for Oscar Romero it was the assassination of Fr. Rutillio Grande; and for Francis of Assisi, it was his embrace of the despised leper.
In my three points today, I would like to reflect on the very demanding and challenging scripture readings of today’s liturgy. I would like to them to the Lenten call to conversion and draw some practical implications.
The Galileans Blood and The Tower at Siloam
Twice within the span of three verses in Luke chapter 13, Jesus makes this stunning statement: “But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” (Lk 13: 3, 5). Coming from Luke, the evangelist who emphasizes the compassionate Jesus, this stern, John-the-Baptist-like warning is surprising. To make this even more surprising, Luke’s Jesus makes a reference to Pilate and the Galileans and the Tower of Siloam. What was Luke referring to?
The Galileans were a fanatical sect who revolted against the Romans. Pilate was ruthless towards those who incited revolt. There was a saying that Pilate mixed the blood of the revolting Galileans with animals’ blood at Roman sacrifices (Lk 13:2). There is no historical evidence of this event. Similarly, the Tower of Siloam, a city south of Jerusalem, was a structure that is supposed to have crushed 18 people and killed them (Lk 13:4). Again, only Luke makes any reference to it but there is no evidence of this tragedy. It is shocking to hear Jesus say that for those who do not repent, it will be worse than the Galileans or those who were crushed under the Tower of Siloam. What do we make of Jesus’ statement?
If we conclude from this passage that that God caused these tragic events as punishment for sin, then we are missing the point. Rather, Jesus was stressing the absolute need for life-transforming conversion in response to the gospel.
Practical Implication: The call to conversion is quintessential to the Lenten and the Christian journey. This Lent, do not miss the call to conversion. Let the Lenten call to conversion reach you with all its intensity.
True Conversion
What Does Conversion mean? We often associate repentance with sin. We think of conversion as feeling true sorrow for sinful actions, seeking God’s forgiveness for them, and a resolve to overcome sins. Allow me to reflect on conversion from a broader perspective.
In the gospel sense, conversion is more than overcoming sins. It represents a change of direction. The first reading today is a great example of conversion (Ex 3:1-15). Moses had fled Egypt out of fear for his life and settled in Midian. This great Egyptian second-in-command was content tending his father-in-law’s sheep. Moses’ encounter with God in the burning bush made him change his direction and go back to Egypt. Moses had to make a 180° turn and retrace his steps to Egypt. Moses’ conversion led an entire people to freedom. Now, this is conversion; this is transformation.
Since I am reflecting on Francis of Assisi these days, let me share his experience. When Francis publicly renounced the world by stripping off the last piece of his family’s clothing, he was not being a jerk. He was not even trying to glorify the virtues of poverty. Rather, Francis was deeply moved by the passion and suffering of Jesus on the crucifix at the San Damiano chapel. Transformed by Christ’s suffering he began to live a life of penance. His solution was not merely to do acts of penance. In his renunciation, Francis moved from one part the social hierarchy of Medieval society to another part of the social rung – from being a wealthy merchant’s reputed son to being a beggar and a nobody on the street. He intentionally and irreversibly transformed his status from being a person who provided livelihood to others to someone who would henceforth depend on others to provide him his daily bread. His embracing the despised leper was his way of becoming like Christ, who renounced his divinity and suffered to redeem humanity. Francis had undergone the deepest conversion.
Practical Implication: Conversion is allowing God to transform us. Conversion is allowing God to mold us into the kind of persons God wishes. Conversion is allowing God to send us wherever God wants to send us. John of the Cross, Thérèse of Lisieux, Oscar Romero and Francis of Assisi are all models of gospel conversion. This week reflect on what conversion means for you.
Conversion is for Good People Too
When we think of conversion, perhaps, we think of those awful people out there. I might say to myself, “I am a good person. I don’t hurt anybody. I am not a murderer, or an adulterer, or a thief, or a racist.” But you see, neither were John of the Cross, Thérèse of Lisieux, Oscar Romero, or Francis. They were all good people living ‘normal’ lives. But the gospel presented to them the need for radical conversion. The greatest danger we can fall into is to think that conversion is for “them.” Conversion is for good people too.
Practical Implication: Francis of Assisi, especially, teaches us that our life can be such that it does not explicitly ignore Christ but nevertheless functions as if he had never existed.
If God could have God’s way with us as God did with John of the Cross, Thérèse of Lisieux, Oscar Romero, and Francis, what would that look like?
Let me conclude with today’s gospel story of the fig tree that did not bear fruit. The gardener pleaded that the fig tree is not cut down. Rather, the gardener promised to tend the tree and fertilize it even more so that it may bear fruit. Today’s readings are demanding and challenging. But God is not a harsh, detached, disengaged God who sits somewhere up there and demands conversion. God is a compassionate, kind, gentle, and patient God who want us to become more and more like Christ.
- Fr. Satish Joseph