On this third Sunday of Lent we hear in the Gospel of Luke (13: 1-9) the parable of the fig tree and the gardener who goes looking for some figs but finds none on his tree—a tree he has pruned and cared for over three years, to no avail.

The Lenten Season highlights the call from Christ for us to be vigilant in our faith and our discipleship—from the overall theme of Lent which is prayer, almsgiving and fasting to the Sunday readings and gospels which calls us to an active faith or “lived faith.”

Father Jack Sullivan, professor of Old Testament Studies at St. John Seminary in Boston, always said, “Gentlemen, listen very closely to the gospel…every time you hear ‘Jesus…went up the mountain to pray,’ the words went up to the mountain to pray is a warning sign that something powerfully important is about to happen.” And indeed today something very important happens in the gospel: along with the Transfiguration, we hear no less than God Himself say, “This is my chosen Son; listen to Him.”

Our second weekly Lenten Mercy Project is meant to benefit the Little Sisters of the Poor at St. Joseph’s Residence in Enfield. Since 1901 the Little Sisters of the Poor have continued the mission of St. Jeanne Jugan in Connecticut by helping hundreds of needy in New Haven and at St. Joseph’s Residence, Enfield. Many generations of friends have shared this mission and have known the great joy which comes from providing for their older “brothers and sisters.” In this ministry, a full continuum of care is provided to seniors in financial need, blended with loving care and a great spiritual life and faith community.

Each first Sunday in Lent we hear this gospel of the temptation of Jesus in the desert from the Synoptic Gospels. Today we hear from Luke. In a nutshell, the desert represents a place of testing in the Old Testament and in a practical way the desert situation temps our self-existence, for we are dependent on others to travel in the desert—needing water and food, a guide and more.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics, as are all Fridays during Lent. For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, two smaller meals may also be taken, but not to equal a full meal (liquids are allowed at any time, but no solid food should be consumed between meals).

Learn more about Our Jubilee Year of Mercy Feeding The Hungry Project, Pantry Partners and St. Elizabeth House, Youth Ministry Mission Trip and the Lenten Mercy Project

If so, then read the book Rediscover Jesus by Matthew Kelly and come for a friendly, non-judgmental discussion on the book’s message and see just how you might build that life-saving relationship with Christ. Take the Lenten season to read the short, practical book on building a relationship with Jesus Christ and then come and chat with like-minded believers to find out how this book can be put into everyday practice. What have you got to lose? Better yet, what have you got to gain—Peace, Joy and Eternity!

This weekend’s readings places us on the Sea of Galilee, or also known as Lake of Gennesaret, which is the largest freshwater lake in Israel, it is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and the second-lowest lake overall (after the Dead Sea, a saltwater lake). The lake is fed partly by underground springs although its main source is the Jordan River which flows through it from north to south. All Old and New Testament writers use the term “sea”, with the exception of Luke who calls it “Lake of Gennesaret.”