Third Sunday of Lent • March 8
Is the Lord in our midst or not? — Exodus 17:7
Okay, whoever has not asked yourself this question, raise your hands. Hmmm, I don’t seem to see any hands. There are times in our lives when the Lord seems very distant. But, if you stop to think about it, these are probably the times when you were relying on yourself. The more self-sufficient we become, the less likely we are to hear or see God.
The Lord that we hear about in the readings today is comfortable talking and sharing with those on the margins, those whom society deems untouchable. It is interesting to ponder perfection being found among the imperfect.
Our late Pope Francis teaches that, The presence of God among men did not take place in a perfect, idyllic world but rather in this real world, which is marked by so many things both good and bad, by division, wickedness, poverty, arrogance and war. He chose to live in our history as it is, with all the weight of its limitations and of its tragedies. In doing so, he has demonstrated in an unequalled manner his merciful and truly loving disposition toward the human creature. He is God-with-us. Jesus is God-with-us. Do you believe this?. . .Jesus, involved himself with man to the point of becoming one of us, it means that whatever we have done to a brother or a sister we have done to him. Jesus himself reminded us of this: whoever has fed, welcomed, visited, loved one of the least and poorest of men, will have done it to the Son of God. . http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/audiences/2013/documents/papa-francesco_20131218_udienza-generale_en.html )
How would you name the presence of Jesus in your life today? This is a good question for personal reflection. Other questions that you might ask yourself are: Do I echo the kind of love that God shows in my own encounters with the poor, oppressed, or marginalized? What holds me back? Lent is a good time to ask deep questions.
As you journey in reflection, contemplate these words from Servant of God, Dorothy Day: When you love people, you see all the good in them, all the Christ in them. God sees Christ, His Son, in us. And so we should see Christ in others, and nothing else, and love them. (Modern Spiritual Masters—Ellsberg, Orbis. 2008)
In this way, we will always know that God is in our midst.
Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director
Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries
Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral Raleigh, NC