Brothers and Sisters,

Today, we celebrate the Third Sunday of Lent. First Sunday, we met Jesus in the desert and second Sunday on the mountain. Today, we return to the desert. Lent is about being in these places, without resources and painfully but clearly becoming aware of the need to learn to trust God in “thin” places where there are no other resources. Last Sunday, we met Jesus on the mountain, transfigured in glory. We will meet him again in similar places. Lent invites us to face the struggles of life as well as to rejoice in grace-filled moments.

Our first reading today (Exodus 17:3-7) speaks of the Israelites venting their frustrations on Moses. But in the end, they had to come face to face with God because they had no other alternative. Lent invites us to do the same – come face to face with God, bringing all our needs, our hungers and our thirsts – we really have no other alternative! The question for the Israelites was really not a “water question”. It was a “God question” – “Is the Lord in our midst”?

God’s response is amazing. Moses was not asked to go and dig a hole or follow a secret path to a hidden spring. He is told to “strike the rock” – look for water in the most unlikely place. God simply assures Moses, “I will be standing there in front of you” – God will be present! Moses strikes the rock! God stands and delivers! Moses struck the rock and water flowed for the Israelites to drink. Israel’s relationship with God required a faith-filled and absolute reliance, a deep abiding trust in God and God’s providence. Israel had to learn this trust as they journeyed through the wilderness. We are challenged to learn to live faith-filled lives, to learn to develop deep, abiding trust in God and God’s ways, learn to trust in Divine Providence and let our faith carry us through those times of hardship.

Our second reading (Romans 5:1-2, 5-8) may be understood better if we read verses not included in this excerpt (Read 5:1-8). Paul challenged the early Christians to see suffering as a cause for rejoicing and to see it as an opportunity to grow into maturity of faith.  He says, suffering produces endurance: a deeper, longer and patient trust in God. This endurance produces character and this, in turn, produces hope. This hope will never be disappointed.

To read more of this Sunday’s reflection, please click on the links below…..