Third Sunday of Lent Year C
Luke 13:1-9
Is God punishing us?

At the heart of our Lenten journey, the Gospel invites us to reflect on how we perceive suffering and God’s role in it. In Luke 13, Jesus addresses the tragic deaths of Galileans and those crushed by a falling tower. The people wonder if these tragedies were divine punishments, a question that echoes through the ages. When faced with suffering, we too may ask: Is God punishing us? Why does He allow such pain?

Jesus firmly rejects the idea of a vengeful God. Evil and suffering do not come from God, for He is a merciful Father who always seeks our good. The psalmist reminds us, “He does not deal with us according to our sins” (Psalm 103:10). The true enemy is sin—the selfishness and wrong choices that harm our relationships and the world around us. Lent calls on us to turn away from sin and embrace the logic of the Gospel, where love and fraternity triumph over evil.

Yet, conversion is not easy. We may grow discouraged by our repeated failures. To encourage us, Jesus offers the parable of the barren fig tree. Though the tree bears no fruit, the owner does not cut it down but gives it more time to flourish. This parable reveals God’s infinite patience. He is the God of second chances, always offering us another opportunity to return to Him.

God believes in us, walks beside us, and nurtures our growth with mercy and tenderness. His gaze is fixed not on our past mistakes but on the fruits we can still bear. This Lenten season, let us embrace God’s patience, seek His forgiveness, and trust in His loving plan. May the Blessed Virgin Mary accompany us on this journey, filling us with hope and courage as we strive for true conversion.

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