Sunday, March 7, 2010 - Third Sunday of Lent

In this week's readings, bushes burn and God's name is revealed, we are warned of destroying angels that afflict the grumblers, fig trees are threatened for not producing, but given another chance. This is, truly, an odd collection of texts. I like to look at the verbs God uses at the burning bush to commission Moses: "I have witnessed" and "I have heard," (regarding Israel 's slavery), then: "I have come," "to lead them out." These are the eternal promises we trust God for. We trust that God has seen our trials and in someway understands even our sinfulness. We trust that God hears us when we call, even with half-hearts, and we trust that we will be met in our mess and led out of it to something better. That's why we have the strength to overcome our past. Lent is always about looking toward Easter—toward TOMORROW. Tomorrow doesn't have to be a repeat of the mistakes of yesterday. So, Onward Christian!