THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT C

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HOW GOD THINKS





Jesus nailed it right on when he described how people tend to think (Lk 13: 1-9): the others are “more guilty,” the others are “more sinful.”  Indirectly of course, we think we are better by even a little bit than the people we deplore.



This is how the human mind works. We love to judge others. When people fail  or when people fall, we immediately say that they deserve what happened to them because they are plain losers.  Compared to us, they just didn’t make the grade!



The Lord also demonstrated how God thinks. With the parable of the fruitless fig tree, the Lord shows us how far beyond our understanding is the way God sees. 



We give deadlines: cut it down now!  God gives another extensions: leave it for another year more. We see waste: why should exhaust the soil?  The Lord sees possibilities: there may be fruit next year.



When all we can think of is destruction, God comes with the offer of his compassion.



How many times we act out our natural tendency to judge and put down.  And many times, we are like this because we have experienced the same from others.



This Lent, let us open ourselves to a new experience.  Let us allow God to give us the chance to change, to grow, and to blossom. This is the experience that awaits us in the sacrament of Confession, so what are we waiting for?



And after feeling the healing effect of God’s compassion, let us allow ourselves to think and feel like he does for the people around us, with great compassion and understanding.

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