A communal call for conversion
March 23—Third Sunday of Lent
Readings: Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15; Psalm 103, R. The Lord is kind and merciful.; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; Gospel—Luke 13:1-9
This Sunday, let us consider conversion as the overall theme of our reflections on the Gospel.
The first point for consideration is Jesus’ call for repentance, which was set within a historical context. The second and third points are revisiting the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) Feb. 2 pastoral letter.
The first half of today’s Gospel (cf. Luke 13:1-9) referred to two historical tragedies among the Jewish people as a warning to the people for the need for repentance—not just individual, but communal or societal repentance.
By this time, when Luke wrote the Gospel, the destruction of Jerusalem had already taken place. So the call to repentance was more communal or societal.
This is very relevant to our present situation on both the national and global levels. If we do not repent and undergo conversion, we seem to be heading toward destruction.
Globally, Pope Francis’ voice calling for repentance and conversion in relation to climate change, war and violence, and economic inequality leading to greater poverty and suffering is the most powerful prophetic voice.
These dark clouds seem to be portents of destruction unless we heed the call, undergo conversion, and act together as a global community.
Most of these concerns, and more, were echoed by the CBCP pastoral letter. The bishops’ inspiring prophetic call, drawn from their description of “the reality around us, [that leads us to an] experience [of] frustration and anguish and of the “glimpses of hope,” is: “May we not give up on one another and our country, for God does not give up on us.”
Golden visa
We view the Parable of the Fig Tree reflecting on this call. There was a gardener who refused to give up on the fig tree and interceded on its behalf when the landowner was ready to cut it down.
It is a powerful reminder not to give up on one another and on our country. The “frustration and anguish” of many is real. The machinations of some divide us toward polarization.
Not only do we ask for a reprieve from destruction, but we must put ourselves on the line and commit to do what we can in nurturing one another and our country toward glimpses of hope.
Two weeks ago, I conducted a Lenten recollection. In one of our conferences the topic of the “ayuda” our people have gotten used to and is being abused by some politicians came up.
It was a light discussion, but it was critique of the ayuda. Then someone mentioned that this is why he understood why people have given up and gotten golden visas to other countries.
Then I said that for those who can afford it, the golden visa is an option out of our chaos, but for the poor the ayuda is their golden visa out of hunger and a relief for a day from poverty.
Everyone laughed, and this became a pivot point in the recollection. There was an “aha” moment when suddenly it hit home: “May we not give up on one another and our country, for God does not give up on us.”
Make ourselves accountable
We must foster a spirit of dialogue and call to task our government officials, but we must add another prophetic invitation from the letter:
“First thing we need to do is to examine ourselves and pursue the path of personal, institutional, and ecclesial conversion in order to rediscover hope. This is the opportunity that the Jubilee Year provides us. Thus, we too make ourselves accountable before the Lord.”
The third point for reflection, and the second viewing of conversion from the optics of the letter, is what the letter quoted toward the end from the letter of St. Paul to the Galatians.
“There is hope! May pag-asa! And St. Paul counsels us: ‘And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up’ (Galatians 6:9).”
Then the CBCP letter adds, and I close: “With our prayer for a spiritual revolution of hope, let us all walk together in this Pilgrimage of Hope toward the Father’s Kingdom.”
We need to start and be part of “a spiritual revolution of hope” together. It is a Jubilee Year of Hope. May pag-asa!
