3rd Sunday Lent - Year C

PASSAGES AND PASSOVERS

On each of Lent’s Third Sundays, the selected scripture readings remind us that ours is a spirituality of un-rootedness.  As we see in today’s first reading from Exodus(3:1-8, 13-15), ours has always been a people on the move, not just from one geographical place to another, but also from one state of growth to another.

In her book “Passages”, author Gail Sheehy calls these developmental stages “passages”, which all human beings experience as they move toward maturity.  Among life’s major passages, Sheehy identifies (1) “pulling up roots”- leaving home and defining oneself apart from one’s parents; (2) “the trying twenties”- one’s first tentative stand as an adult when all things seem possible; (3) “the catch thirties” - in which life commitments are made, broken or renewed, (4) “the midlife crisis of the forties”- a dangerous part of the journey when maturing adults confront the loss of youth, the fading purposes of old roles, career changes, disruptions in sexual equilibrium and spiritual dilemmas; it can also be a time of great opportunity for self-discovery and renewal.  In addition to these passages, there are so many others, as when we find friendship and pass from loneliness to companionship, or when we pass over from sickness to well-being, or when sorrow for sin moves us to repentance and allows us to pass over from guilt to forgiveness.  Through all these passages and passovers, we learn to know ourselves and, even more importantly, we come to know God.

It could be said that passover is the name of our spirituality, a spirituality that began to grow when God said to Abraham, “Go!” and because he had faith in God, he did.  Moses had first become aware of the presence of God in the phenomenon of the bush, burning but not consumed.  By the strength of God’s presence, Moses led his people out of Egypt.  Their passover from slavery to freedom became the pivotal event of Israel's history.  But even that passover was marred by human frailty.

Paul, in today’s 2nd reading (1Cor. 10:1-6,10-12) warns his readers to learn from the experience of the Israelites so as not to repeat their mistakes.  When the journey of life becomes burdensome, we have to remember Moses’ God, a God who hears our cries, knows our struggles and is ever present to strengthen us along our way.