March 23, 2025: Third Sunday of Lent

God constantly reveals His compassion and mercy to us.  Unlike what people thought at the time of Jesus, God doesn't necessarily use unfortunate circumstances as punishment.  Yet if we don't repent, we will face judgment.  And He gives us an opportunity to repent.  Even when the landowner wants the tree cut down out of frustration for lack of fruit, the gardener intercedes for us, as Jesus works to fertilize the soil of our hearts so that we will bear fruit.

Week to repent and bear fruit of righteousness in response to the marvels of our God, so awesome and so mysterious.  He commanded Moses to remove His sandals because he was standing on holy ground before the Mighty God.  Yet this God announced He would save His people from slavery, and chose Moses to lead them out of Egypt.

Indeed, God is mysterious, revealing Himself as the Great I AM.  Yet He chooses to work in our hearts so that we repent and bear the fruit of righteousness, making His presence known.  So we make holy the ground where we stand.

These words resonate with me deeply because 12 years ago, I heard them proclaimed when I attended Mass at St. Augustine Mission.  It was founded by St. Mother Katharine Drexel to serve teh needs of the Native Americans in northeast Nebraska.  It is holy ground because she founded it and walked there in service, seeking to make God known.  Our group made it holy ground because we went there in the name of faith to serve, too.