The Holy Spirit guides us in our conversion.
The third Sunday of Lent invites us to contemplate our journey of conversion
with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The first reading from the book of Exodus
reminds us that God is always attentive to the struggles of His people. In Egypt,
He witnessed their suffering, heard their cries for freedom, and chose to act
decisively. God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of bondage and into the
Promised Land, assuring them that calling on His name would provide His
protection and deliverance. This narrative emphasizes a profound truth: God
sees, hears, and understands our challenges, and He will act on our behalf,
offering us a sense of security and comfort.
In today’s Gospel from St. Luke, it seems that a grave injustice has occurred.
We hear of a disturbing report that Pilate mixed the blood of Galileans with their
sacrifices. Jesus shifts the focus from the evil act to a broader, more personal
call for repentance. He emphasizes that the Galileans who suffered were not
worse sinners than others. Similarly, the eighteen people who perished when the
tower of Siloam fell were not singled out for greater sinfulness. Thus, Jesus
warns, “But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” When
faced with stories of injustice, our instinct is to demand change from those who
commit wrongs. However, Jesus urges us to look inward, calling for personal
change and repentance. Why emphasize our own need for change? Because it
holds the transformative power to bring us closer to God and His love, filling us
with hope and inspiring others.
The call to change and repentance encourages us to embrace Jesus’
commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.” This extraordinary love
extends even to our enemies, urging us to bless those who may curse us and to
do good to those who might harm us. Jesus’ love is unconditional, not dependent
on our actions or worthiness. It surrounds us as we are and inspires us to share
that love with everyone around us.
Dear brothers and sisters, as we journey through Lent, we are reminded that
we are sinners in need of a Savior. By acknowledging our sinfulness, we
embrace Christ’s redeeming love. The Holy Spirit is with us, guiding us toward
conversion and renewal. In our moments of repentance and transformation, we
can take comfort in knowing that God is aware of our struggles, hears our
prayers, and showers us with love and mercy. This Lenten season, let us
respond to Jesus’ gentle call by allowing His boundless love to inspire our hearts,
invigorate our repentance, and deepen our commitment to living out His
commandment of love, so that we may bear fruit in our families and community.Fr. Dominic Toan Tran, Pastor