Edward Kleinguetl
Third Sunday of Lent (C)
Our Gospel today contains what is often referred to as the Parable of the Second Chance.1 The fig tree is an appropriate image for our Lenten reflection as we consider our relationship with Jesus Christ. Probably many of us in our lives can relate to the fig tree which appeared to be lifeless. We have periods where we feel barren or are thirsting for something greater. Yet, I can say with absolute certainty that every human heart, no matter how barren, has the capacity for immense love, mercy, and compassion. How do I know this? Because all are created in the image of God; each of us has the Divine Image impressed within. Yes, it is true that sometimes that image is not as brilliant as it should be, perhaps coated with dust and neglect. However, the image is part of who we are. Lent is one of seasons of the Church where we re-examine our relationship with Jesus, to start scrubbing away the decay in order to draw closer to Him, for we are told, whoever remains in Him bears much fruit.2
The second chance is ours to accept. We can choose to seek Jesus in our lives or not. However, we can simply look to the crucifix above and know our Father’s desire for us – we can see the depth of His love. Look up and reflect for a moment on Jesus, in anguish on the cross. Hear his words: “I thirst.” He thirsts for each of us, just as we are. When we are weak, when we doubt, or when we feel like we are failing, look upon the cross. It is a reminder we are never left alone. When we consider Jesus on the cross, by human standards one could say his life was a defeat, a disappointment, and a failure. Even most of his disciples scattered in fear and doubt. Think of Jesus, “reduced to absolute immobility, nailed on the cross. He was no longer able to encounter people, to cure the sick, to teach…. Yet in the eyes of God, that was the most important moment of his life, because it was then that he poured out his blood for the salvation of humanity.”3
It was through this act of perfect self-giving that we can begin to appreciate the depths of the Father’s love for us. He gave humanity a second chance after Adam’s rejection in the Garden of Eden; God sent us His Son. It also helps us to understand how we are called to live in own our lives. We too are asked to completely surrender and trust in God’s plan. Like the fig tree, we are given the chance to bear fruit. He will never give up on us. The rest is up to us.
Next week in the Gospel, we will hear the Parable of the Prodigal Son; another story of a second chance. There is no more beautiful image in the Bible, in my opinion, than the Loving Father embracing and unconditionally forgiving his wayward son. Yet, if we stop with this image in our mind, we will miss one of the most important messages of the parable: We too are called to be like the Loving Father, to forgive unconditionally, even when it hurts. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta would tell us: “Love is a one-way street. It always moves away from self in the direction of the other. It is through love (even when it hurts) that we encounter God.”4 Thus, without love, we will be like the barren fig tree, exhausting the soil and squandering our gifts.
If you would say to me, this is too hard, I would agree. I struggle with this each day. Yet, this is the standard to which each of us is called; we have the capacity to love deeply because we have the Divine Image impressed within us. Alone, of course, it is impossible. However with God, nothing is impossible.5 That is why during this Lenten season, we strive to deepen our relationship with Jesus, who is the way to the Father.6
What should we do? How do we deepen our relationship with Jesus? In our parable today, the gardener cultivated the soil and fertilized it. We can cultivate the soil of our hearts; we have the three traditional Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Today, let me just concentrate for a moment on prayer because so many people in the world hunger to know Jesus.
Prayer, specifically contemplative prayer, is to listen to voice of Jesus within the silent depths of our hearts; to hear His knocking and to let Him in.7 If you want a close, personal relationship with Jesus, contemplative prayer is the way. The most ancient form of contemplative prayer is the Jesus Prayer – my personal favorite and Fr. Alfonso’s as well. Can we make time in our lives during this Lenten season to encounter Jesus in prayer?
How much time? This is up to each individual; some of the great mystics will say to start with 15 to 20 minutes per day8 – just be consistent; taking time each day, making it a discipline.
Of course, there are other forms of fertilizer, too, such as reading Scripture, particularly the Gospels, receiving Eucharist, and of course, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the “forgotten medicine,”9 in which we are truly able to have our burdens lifted and hear the words of Jesus, “You are forgiven!”
This is how we deepen our relationship with Jesus, to take advantage of the second chance given us.
Over this remaining Lenten season, let us actively seek to deepen our relationship with Jesus, taking time to encounter Jesus in the depths of our hearts; simply listening to Him in the silence.
As we approach the Holy Table today, before we receive the Precious Body and Life-giving Blood or Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, let us each take a moment to look up at the cross and hear those words of Jesus, “I thirst.” Know that he thirsts for every single one of us; he accepts us just as we are. Like the fig tree and the Prodigal Son, he offers everyone another chance. Take a moment to offer a brief prayer such as, “Lord Jesus, you died for love of me. Help me to die to self for love of you."
Then, as we receive Him in Holy Communion, let us allow Him to give us the grace we need to surrender and draw closer to Him during this Lenten season. He will give us the grace we need. All we have to do is ask. The choice is ours.
1. William Barclay, The Gospel of Luke, taken from The Daily Bible Study series, rev. ed., (Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, 2001): 208.
2. Cf. John 15:5.
3. Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, Testimony of Hope: The Spiritual Exercises of John Paul II, transl. Julia Mary Darrenkamp, FSP, and Anne Eileen Hefferman, FSP, (Pauline Books & Media, Boston, 2000): 205.
4. Cf. Mother Teresa, Where There is Love, There is God, Brian Kolodiejchuk, MC, PhD, (Image Books, New York, 2010): 26.
5. Cf. Matt. 19:26
Third Sunday of Lent (C)
March 3, 2013
Homily
Gospel: Luke 13:1-9Our Gospel today contains what is often referred to as the Parable of the Second Chance.1 The fig tree is an appropriate image for our Lenten reflection as we consider our relationship with Jesus Christ. Probably many of us in our lives can relate to the fig tree which appeared to be lifeless. We have periods where we feel barren or are thirsting for something greater. Yet, I can say with absolute certainty that every human heart, no matter how barren, has the capacity for immense love, mercy, and compassion. How do I know this? Because all are created in the image of God; each of us has the Divine Image impressed within. Yes, it is true that sometimes that image is not as brilliant as it should be, perhaps coated with dust and neglect. However, the image is part of who we are. Lent is one of seasons of the Church where we re-examine our relationship with Jesus, to start scrubbing away the decay in order to draw closer to Him, for we are told, whoever remains in Him bears much fruit.2
The second chance is ours to accept. We can choose to seek Jesus in our lives or not. However, we can simply look to the crucifix above and know our Father’s desire for us – we can see the depth of His love. Look up and reflect for a moment on Jesus, in anguish on the cross. Hear his words: “I thirst.” He thirsts for each of us, just as we are. When we are weak, when we doubt, or when we feel like we are failing, look upon the cross. It is a reminder we are never left alone. When we consider Jesus on the cross, by human standards one could say his life was a defeat, a disappointment, and a failure. Even most of his disciples scattered in fear and doubt. Think of Jesus, “reduced to absolute immobility, nailed on the cross. He was no longer able to encounter people, to cure the sick, to teach…. Yet in the eyes of God, that was the most important moment of his life, because it was then that he poured out his blood for the salvation of humanity.”3
It was through this act of perfect self-giving that we can begin to appreciate the depths of the Father’s love for us. He gave humanity a second chance after Adam’s rejection in the Garden of Eden; God sent us His Son. It also helps us to understand how we are called to live in own our lives. We too are asked to completely surrender and trust in God’s plan. Like the fig tree, we are given the chance to bear fruit. He will never give up on us. The rest is up to us.
Next week in the Gospel, we will hear the Parable of the Prodigal Son; another story of a second chance. There is no more beautiful image in the Bible, in my opinion, than the Loving Father embracing and unconditionally forgiving his wayward son. Yet, if we stop with this image in our mind, we will miss one of the most important messages of the parable: We too are called to be like the Loving Father, to forgive unconditionally, even when it hurts. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta would tell us: “Love is a one-way street. It always moves away from self in the direction of the other. It is through love (even when it hurts) that we encounter God.”4 Thus, without love, we will be like the barren fig tree, exhausting the soil and squandering our gifts.
If you would say to me, this is too hard, I would agree. I struggle with this each day. Yet, this is the standard to which each of us is called; we have the capacity to love deeply because we have the Divine Image impressed within us. Alone, of course, it is impossible. However with God, nothing is impossible.5 That is why during this Lenten season, we strive to deepen our relationship with Jesus, who is the way to the Father.6
What should we do? How do we deepen our relationship with Jesus? In our parable today, the gardener cultivated the soil and fertilized it. We can cultivate the soil of our hearts; we have the three traditional Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Today, let me just concentrate for a moment on prayer because so many people in the world hunger to know Jesus.
Prayer, specifically contemplative prayer, is to listen to voice of Jesus within the silent depths of our hearts; to hear His knocking and to let Him in.7 If you want a close, personal relationship with Jesus, contemplative prayer is the way. The most ancient form of contemplative prayer is the Jesus Prayer – my personal favorite and Fr. Alfonso’s as well. Can we make time in our lives during this Lenten season to encounter Jesus in prayer?
How much time? This is up to each individual; some of the great mystics will say to start with 15 to 20 minutes per day8 – just be consistent; taking time each day, making it a discipline.
Of course, there are other forms of fertilizer, too, such as reading Scripture, particularly the Gospels, receiving Eucharist, and of course, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the “forgotten medicine,”9 in which we are truly able to have our burdens lifted and hear the words of Jesus, “You are forgiven!”
This is how we deepen our relationship with Jesus, to take advantage of the second chance given us.
Over this remaining Lenten season, let us actively seek to deepen our relationship with Jesus, taking time to encounter Jesus in the depths of our hearts; simply listening to Him in the silence.
As we approach the Holy Table today, before we receive the Precious Body and Life-giving Blood or Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, let us each take a moment to look up at the cross and hear those words of Jesus, “I thirst.” Know that he thirsts for every single one of us; he accepts us just as we are. Like the fig tree and the Prodigal Son, he offers everyone another chance. Take a moment to offer a brief prayer such as, “Lord Jesus, you died for love of me. Help me to die to self for love of you."
Then, as we receive Him in Holy Communion, let us allow Him to give us the grace we need to surrender and draw closer to Him during this Lenten season. He will give us the grace we need. All we have to do is ask. The choice is ours.
1. William Barclay, The Gospel of Luke, taken from The Daily Bible Study series, rev. ed., (Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, 2001): 208.
2. Cf. John 15:5.
4. Cf. Mother Teresa, Where There is Love, There is God, Brian Kolodiejchuk, MC, PhD, (Image Books, New York, 2010): 26.
5. Cf. Matt. 19:26
6. See John 14:6.
7. Cf. Rev. 3:20.
8. St. Theophan the Recluse suggests 15 minutes per day and Fr. Thomas Keating, OCSO suggests 20 minutes a day, twice a day.
7. Cf. Rev. 3:20.
8. St. Theophan the Recluse suggests 15 minutes per day and Fr. Thomas Keating, OCSO suggests 20 minutes a day, twice a day.
9. See Seraphim Aleksiev, The Forgotten Medicine: The Mystery of Repentance, Transl. by Ralitsa Doynova, St. Xenia Skete Press, Wildwood, California, 1994.
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