February 28, 2016 — Third Sunday of Lent
Ex 3: 1-8A, 13-15; Ps 103: 1-4, 6-8, 11; 1 Cor 10: 1-6, 10-12; Lk 13: 1-9
Our Old Testament Reading, the First Reading, on this Third Sunday of Lent, relates the narrative of Moses and the Burning Bush. Like many readings which we hear throughout our lives, this is an image and a story with which most of us are familiar. Also, through Moses’ experience there is a stewardship message for each of us.
As Moses approaches the bush, God calls out “Moses, Moses!” The fact that the Lord repeats Moses’ name gives the situation a sense of urgency. Perhaps God feels the same sense of urgency in relation to each of us. God calls us, and He calls us by name, but too often we do not hear, or we do not pay attention. Probably most often we are not even listening.
The second aspect of stewardship indicated in this passage from Holy Scripture is found in God’s next statement, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Removing sandals was an act of respect, a sign of humility. To fully live lives of stewardship requires these traits from each of us — to be alert and aware that God is speaking to us, but we must listen, and to live our lives, especially our stewardship lives, with a sense of humility. That is, after all, how we really show love for our God and for one another.
