Today, we celebrate the 3rd Sunday of Lent, a sacred time for repentance, renewal, and rediscovering our true identity as children of God. In the Liturgy of the Word, we encounter Moses at the burning bush, where God reveals Himself as the great “I AM.” This encounter reminds us that it is always God who takes the initiative in calling us to Himself. Even in our prayer, it is God who first reaches out to us, and our prayers are meant to be a loving response to His call.
The burning bush, which was not consumed by the fire, symbolizes God’s eternal presence—He is the God who was, who is, and who will always be. When God introduces Himself to Moses as “I AM,” He invites Moses into a personal and intimate relationship. Similarly, during Lent, God calls each of us to a deeper communion with Him. Our fasting, prayer, and almsgiving are not merely external practices but ways to focus our hearts on the God who has revealed Himself to us.
For the Jewish people, to know someone’s name was to know their identity, their personhood, and their authority. God wants us to know Him in this way—not just as a distant deity but as a loving Father who desires an intimate relationship with us. He reveals Himself to Moses as a Merciful Father, a God who hears the cry of His people. This is the same God who calls us to hear the cries of our brothers and sisters today: the poor, the marginalized, the victims of addiction, the migrants fleeing war, those living with disabilities, and even the cry of Mother Earth. Like Moses, we are called to be instruments of God’s mercy and liberation in the world.
St. Paul, in his writings, helps us appreciate how Moses’ encounter with God transformed him into a leader who guided his people back to God. Through our baptism, we too are called to be leaders and witnesses of God’s mercy in the world. Lent is a time to reclaim this identity and to live it more fully.
In the Gospel (Luke 13:1-9), Jesus reminds us that Lent is a season of repentance and renewal. He rejects the idea that suffering is a direct result of personal sin. Instead, He emphasizes that all people are sinners in need of repentance. His message is not about assigning blame but about recognizing the fragility of human life and the urgency of turning back to God.
The parable of the barren fig tree illustrates both God’s justice and His mercy. The vineyard owner represents God’s justice, while the vinedresser, who pleads for more time to nurture the tree, represents Christ’s intercession and mercy. This parable is a warning and an invitation: a warning that judgment will come, and an invitation to use the time we have been given to bear fruit.
What are the fruits God is asking of us? They are the fruits of love, mercy, kindness, and justice. Lent is an opportunity to cast off the habits that make us spiritually barren—habits like greed, jealousy, gluttony, and indifference. Through fasting, we train ourselves to use our thoughts, desires, and actions in ways that glorify God. Through prayer, we deepen our relationship with Him. And through almsgiving, we respond to the cries of those in need.
Brothers and sisters, let us make this Lenten season a kairos moment—a special time of grace and transformation. Let us respond to God’s call with intensified prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Let us remember that God is both just and merciful. While His mercy gives us time to repent, His justice reminds us that we must not take this time for granted.
As we continue our Lenten journey, let us ask ourselves: Are we bearing fruit in our lives? Are we responding to the grace God has given us? Let us turn away from sin and embrace the path of holiness. Let us become the presence of the “I AM” in the world, bringing God’s mercy and love to all we meet.
May this Lent be a time of profound encounter with the Merciful Father, a time of repentance, and a time of bearing abundant fruit for the Kingdom of God. Amen.