Reflection for the 3rd Sunday of Lent, 2025

Exodus 3: 1-8a, 13-15; Psalm 103; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9

For three years now, I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree….

Today the Liturgy offers to us a couple of serious, even grim, warnings from Jesus, but Saint Luke’s Gospel later conveys the hope that conversion brings.

Jesus admonished those who told Him about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed: “If you do not repent, you will all perish as they did.” He gave the same response about those killed by the collapse of a tower. That reminds us of the Genesis story of the Tower of Babel. “Pride comes before the fall”. In the end, these stories show that we can learn from others’ tragedies.

Have I strayed, too? Of course, yes, because I am human, so I should make my way back to His path, before it is too late. Sometimes the words of a traditional act of contrition can spur us on to soon receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation: “I am heartily sorry because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell….^” 

The Galileans that Jesus spoke of, who had died, had no more chances to be sorry, or to grow in holiness, but we do, fortunately. The divine mercy we receive in confession gives us strength to combat the sins we have confessed. And on the steps of humility we can always ascend more energetically toward God.

We need to repent and admit past mistakes. That is part of life within a “falling” human nature, as Father John Hardon, SJ, is quoted as saying. As Catholics, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is the fuel for our spiritual regeneration.

“Working the soil” by making a good examination of conscience prepares the soul. So does heartily forgiving, and forgetting, all who have injured us. This is the condition Our Lord set for receiving his mercy, as we pray every day in the “Our Father”.

We have heard that once a month is a good schedule for receiving the Sacrament of Penance. Saint Vincent de Paul, the original founder of Sisters of Charity, also encouraged general confession. Making a general confession led one of his parishioners to a soul-saving conversion. Before the man’s death, he proclaimed this to his fellow parishioners.

Peace and love which are the wonderful fruits of confession also help us to increase in fervor, in enthusiasm for following Him. For example, I want to be sorry “most of all because I have offended Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love.”

The gardener whose fig tree had not produced fruit was disappointed, but that was not the end. He cultivated the ground and fertilized it, and hoped for good results in the coming year.

The first day of spring this past week gives us a little more impetus for the work that will necessarily follow. Let us then work steadfastly to weed the garden of our own soul, to “till the ground”, and to carefully plant the seeds.

Blossoms will abound.

It may bear fruit in the future….