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Word To Life
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Sunday Scripture Readings: March 11, 2007
By Beverly Corzine
Catholic News Service
March 11, Third Sunday of Lent
Cycle C Readings:
1) Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15
Psalm 103:1-4, 6-8, 11
2) 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12
3) Gospel: Luke 13:1-9
Occasionally, the Lord has a way of placing a person or situation in our lives that provides us with a new perspective or sends us in a new direction.
At the Easter Vigil we watch women, men and teenagers drenched in the waters of baptism. Who or what gave the nudge that brought them to our church, we might wonder. Perhaps a Catholic friend said, "How about coming to church with me next Sunday?"
I've known other stories too: At funerals a tearful adult grandchild reveals to close family and relative strangers what a talented loving person her aged grandparent really was. The person who had just passed left an indelible mark on the speaker's heart. A man I know obviously has been enormously successful in business, but what I did not know until I had an unexpected conversation with him, is how hard his childhood was. I now understand his devotion to volunteering. He has never forgotten how it felt to be sad and alone.
Before he investigates the bush burning in his path, Moses has been a prince of Egypt, discovered he is the son of slaves, murdered an Egyptian, escaped his would-be captors, become a shepherd for Jethro, the priest of Midian, and married his daughter. In the grand scheme of his life, Moses' heroic adventures are just beginning as he leads his father-in-law's flock across the desert toward Horeb. The task of safely shepherding animals across unyielding desert terrain pales in comparison to the role he will soon play in salvation history when he leads the Israelites out of Egypt.
However, before any of these events occur, Moses will be enveloped in the mystery of the God of Creation, the God of Moses' ancestors, the God who says, "Tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you."
The ancient one who reveals the mysterious name I AM to Moses so many millennia ago still speaks to the human heart. The opportunities for encountering the holy are innumerable. My grandfather used to say: "Beverly, there are burning bushes everywhere. All you have to do is take the time to investigate."
QUESTIONS:
Who or what, recently, has directed your consciousness to God's presence? What new perspectives in your faith life have you gained from these encounters?
SCRIPTURE TO ILLUSTRATE:
"Is the Lord in our midst or not?" (Exodus 17:7d)
END
Copyright © 2006 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS Word To Life column may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
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