Contrition, Forgiveness & Mercy leads to Action, which  Produces Conversion and Transformation The Third Sunday of Lent calls us to understand contrition, which is built upon repentance, forgiveness and mercy that lead us to a conversion of heart and a transformation of life.

In today’s Lukan Gospel we are called to reflect deeply on our own lives and our (right)  relationship with God. At first we hear of some Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. They question Jesus about the sinfulness of said Galileans and Jesus responds, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?” “By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” Jesus reminds them that such tragedies are not  necessarily a punishment for sin, but rather urging them to examine their own lives.

“Unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.” Jesus calls us too to recognize our need for conversion and transformation. Remember that Lent is a season to convert the heart and transform our way(s) of living…to be in right relationship with God, meaning to align our will to the Will of God. Repentance is simply a turning away from sin, and turning towards God. Our lives are intertwined with others—we are not islands—but we are connected and meant to care for one  another—and in doing so, we cannot become complacent about our connections and care for others as well as for our own spiritual journey.

Last Sunday I emphasized the second reading from St. Paul to the Philippians to be used as a personal spiritual retreat. St. Paul admonished and warned the Philippians not to stand alone and ignore God by prioritizing everyday life activities—today things like work, soccer, school plays and selfishness—over spiritual enrichment and lived experiences of faith, the things we can take with us from this world—our kindnesses, compassion, hope illustrated in our feeding of the poor, healing the sick, teaching the ignorant, and drawing the wandering back into God’s Life. Paul said to join together with others (the Church) in like-minded actions and build in faith, belief and hope, which all build our right relationship with God.

In the parable of the fig tree, the second half of this week’s gospel, finds an owner of a barren fig tree tired and frustrated with the fruitless tree, and decides to “cut his losses” and take the tree down. But the gardener steps in and asked the land owner for one more year – stating that he will care for it, fertilize it and see if it can change and produce fruit. This imagery of the caring  gardener is God’s patience and mercy with us—the sinners—who just need forgiveness or mercy, and if shown care, will convert, grow and bear much fruit. God’s tender hands reach out—in the idea of the gardener—and we respond in grace with conversion and transformation.

In this third Sunday of Lent, we have a hopeful gospel message that gives us reinforcement and strength in this otherwise penitential season, showing us that God is all-loving, all-caring and all-forgiving. Like the barren and “lost” fig tree, we too need to be spared of ourselves—nourished by the Eucharist (fertilized, if you will) and then tenderly cared for again, in the mercy and forgiveness of Reconciliation (the Sacrament of Confession). For by God’s grace we can be converted to produce much succulent fruit in-and-through our lives. Lent: Keep Calm and Carry On with St. Paul.