As you prepare for the Third Sunday of Lent (March 6 & 7, 2010)...

Read  Psalm 103:1-4, 6-8, 11.  Read the text aloud several times, giving meaning to each word.  Notice how you speak it--to which words do you give the emphasis?  Whisper it and see what syllables are stressed.  Now chant this text on a single tone in natural speech rhythm--but not too fast--paying close attention to the emphases you just discovered!

God sees the sufferings of the people Israel and "come[s] down to rescue them" (Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15).  Thus, says God, am I to be remembered.  But the people, traveling from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land, do not remember; they "desire evil things" and are "struck down" (1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12).  Thus Jesus' stark command in the gospel (Luke 13:1-9):  repent or perish, bear fruit or be cut down; and Paul's warning:  do not take salvation for granted.

The responsorial psalm, however, reassures us that God will never renege on the work of salvation.  No human fickleness will ever change the behavior of God who "pardons all...iniquities."  Despite our recalcitrance, I AM continues to act for our redemption.  Even in the gospel reading Jesus grants one more chance before final judgment is rendered.  Our part of the bargain is to respond to such fidelity with willingness to be converted and transformed.  May our singing about this God whose mercy knows no bounds motivate our repentance.

The message, however, is not "do what you want and know you'll be forgiven" but "how can we not be faithful to this God who loves us so much"?  How can this message motivate your own repentance?  How can it help you remain faithful to the Lenten journey?

Prayer:  Merciful God, you call us to repentance, pardoning all our sins and crowning us with kindness and compassion.  Draw us to yourself so that we may embrace your mercy and walk in newness of life.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.