From the Pastor - 3rd Sunday of Lent
From the Pastor - 3rd Sunday of Lent
Today’s Gospel passage reminds us that life is precious and the gift of time on this earth is just that — a gift. None of us knows how much time will be granted to us, so it is urgent that we use this gift intentionally to glorify God and serve our neighbor.
Jesus offers the parable of the fig tree to further illustrate this truth. The owner of the orchard came searching for fruit on a fig tree he had had planted in his orchard. Finding no fruit on the tree after three years, he told the gardener to cut it down. But the gardener intercedes and asks for one more year to cultivate and fertilize the tree in hopes it would bear fruit in the future. The fig tree was not dying; it simply wasn’t doing much of anything at all. Can this be said of us and our lives as well?
The season of Lent is a time to reflect carefully on the way we spend our time. Do we give first priority to God, tending to our spiritual growth and sacramental life with diligence? Do we give next priority to our loved ones, focusing intentionally on them each day without distractions from phones, screens or thoughts of work? If not, now is the moment to repent of our waste of time or of misplaced priorities on our use of time. God is merciful but just. Let’s turn to Him and ask Him to make our lives fruitful while we still have time to do so.
Pastoral Pondering
Stained Glass Windows – The Parishioner Window (Coronation of Our Lady) is now fully funded. Thanks for all those who participated. Both the Scourging at the Pillar ($6,400) and the Church, St. Peter & Keys, ($4,757) are still accepting donations. Hopefully, you are enjoying the most recent additions.
Diocesan Support Appeal – the most recent report from the Diocese indicates that $115,721.75 has been received in donations. There are $156,270.51 in outstanding pledges. This leaves a balance of $40,586.74 in order to reach our parish assessed goal. Thanks to all who have supported this important appeal.
Matters of Faith – the following is taken from one of the daily mediations of Exodus 90. It addresses something that many have become complacent about in our culture, fear of the Lord.
Scripture tells us, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). What do you think when you hear this? For too many years, God has been portrayed by preachers and teachers as a flowery and mild individual, completely approachable, nothing to fear. This is backwards. God is utter incomprehensibility and all-powerful. Man is deceiving himself if he considers his God to be harmless.
Due fear produces a response of respect. Experienced high-altitude mountaineers have due fear of snow. Snow seems harmless to most people, but to those scaling white-capped mountains, death by avalanche is a real possibility. Thus, mountaineers respect the power of snow by watching the weather, testing the snow pack, and adjusting their trekking plans accordingly. Regardless of what people think, snow is far from harmless. It is the same—and much more so—with God.
In [the Book of Exodus], the Israelites are alerted to the presence of God via the trumpet. Trumpets sound in Sacred Scripture for two prominent reasons: to call men to battle and to call men to prayer. It is not ironic that the two calls would share the same sign. The blare of the trumpet calls men to battle both in the field and in prayer before God.
No one should approach God with abject or servile fear. However, our merciful and good God is also just. He places upon us just obligations and expectations that He desires in terms of proper worship and conduct. Lent is a good time to reflect on this reality and to ask the Lord to show us areas in our lives that need some adjustment in order to give more due reverence the august reality of Almighty God.