Dear friends on the journey,

Have you heard the modern-day parable of the man caught in a storm? With flood waters rising, he takes to his roof, praying for God to save him. Along comes a rowboat. When asked to get in the boat, the man declines, saying, “God will save me. I have faith.” This happens again when a motor boat comes along. Again the man declines and continues praying for God to save him. Finally, as the water rises higher, a helicopter flies over, dangling a rope, with an invitation to climb up. The man declines once more, sure that God will save him. He eventually drowns and dies. Upon arrival in heaven, the man asks God why he was not saved. God replied, “I sent you two boats and a helicopter. What more did you want?”

Today’s readings remind me of this story. The Israelites have long been enslaved in Egypt, but seeing their suffering and pain, God promises to Moses to save them from slavery. Moses asks God for a response to the anticipated question from the Israelites about whom sent Moses. God tells Moses to say, “I AM sent me to you.”

In today’s gospel, Jesus offers the parable of the fig tree that has not produced fruit in three years. The gardener assures the owner, who’s ready to cut down the seemingly dead tree, that with good cultivation, fertilization, and patience, the fig tree will yield fruit in one year.

We often feel trapped by our own sins and problems and, like the Israelites in Egypt, can feel like there is no escape. But God’s promise shows that there is always hope. God’s action in freeing the Israelites is a reminder of God’s constant love and desire for our freedom from the struggles that bind us. We are called to trust in God’s timing and ways.
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Luke’s parable highlights God’s patience. The gardener’s request for more time is a reminder that God does not give up on us easily. God gives us time to change and grow in faith. However, we must respond to this opportunity. We are called to use the time wisely by cultivating and fertilizing our soil of faith.

Dear Parish Family,

I wish you all a joyful Lenten season. I wonder how many of you may think why I would use the word joyful when so often we think of the Lenten season as a time of sacrifice and giving up many of our favorite indulgences. A time where some would say we are more somber and reflective, perhaps even mournful. I say joyful because every Lent is an opportunity to hit restart or have a do over, in our lives. It’s the perfect time not only to abandon self-destructive habits, but also to form new life-giving habits, habits that can extend beyond the 40 days of Lent. This should fill us with hope and joy, that it is not too late to start over again. I love the way Fr. Patrick reminds us about our Lenten sacrifices, how it is OK if we fail, they should be difficult and challenging. Yet we must remember though we may fail, we should start again every time this is how we know it is worth doing.

Parish family, another reason this should fill us with joy, we do not do this alone — our Lord is with us in our journey. There is no sacrifice or difficulty that we encounter in our lives that our Lord Jesus did not endure himself.

In our Gospel today, we hear about how Jesus was tempted in the desert by the devil. He was tempted in his physical human needs, knowing Jesus was experiencing hunger. He tempted him in his emotional and spiritual needs, offering him power and glory. He was provoked and taunted to prove he was God. Yet our Lord did not fall for the devil's tricks. He chose to fully trust in God the father’s will for him. He used his time in the wilderness to pray and prepare himself for his mission. In a similar way during this Lenten season let us take the time to reflect on the choices that we make each day, how this reflects our priorities and what we consider to be important to us. Is our relationship with God the priority of our lives? How much time do we spend with our Lord? What about our relationships with the body of Christ? Is there someone we have neglected or we need to reconcile with? How are we preparing to fulfill our mission?
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Jesus’s response to the devil’s temptations remind us that God is to take priority in our lives. Our Lenten practices prepare us to choose God above everything else in our lives. As we journey in those moments of wilderness in our lives, let us use those moments to pray and reflect. But we can not stay there, we must return and take action, make changes that bring us closer to our Lord. Where we can magnify the Lord that lives in us. With the confidence and trust that our God will give us the strength we need to do all things.

In this spirit, I suggest a simple Lenten challenge this week, not just to give something up but to take action. Such as to phone a long lost friend or relative, and reconnect, visit a sick person, or invite someone to join you to Mass next Sunday. What a joyous encounter this could be. Whatever it may be, may it bring you closer to our Lord.

I will be praying for you, please pray for me too.

Siempre Adelante,
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Tere Delgado
Faith Formation Minister 

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