23 March, Wednesday

Liturgy of the Word — Ex. 3:1-8, 13-15; Ps. 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11; 1 Cor. 10:1-6, 10-12; Lk. 13:1-9.

1. 1st Reading, Ex. 3:1-8, 13-15 — God sends Moses to rescue the Israelites in Egypt and reveals his name, I AM WHO AM.

While Moses was leading the sheep of his father-in-law, Jethro, "he came to the mountain of God, Horeb [Sinai]. There the angel of God appeared to him as fire flaming out of a bush.... but the bush was not being consumed (vv. 1-3). The Lord called from the bush, "Moses, Moses." Moses answered, "Here I am." God answered, "Do not come near! Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob." Moses hid his face. He was afraid to look at God (vv. 4-6).

2. And the Lord said, "I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and heard their cry against their taskmasters... Therefore, I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians, and lead them... into a land flowing with milk and honey" (vv. 7-8). But Moses asks for the Lord's name. God replied, "I am who am." Tell the Israelites,

"I AM has sent me ... This is my name forever; this is my title for all generations" (vv. 13-15).

3. Resp. Ps. 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11 — Praise of Divine Goodness, recalling God's mercy to Moses and the Israelites. "Bless the Lord, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name... do not forget all his gifts. He pardons all your sins, and heals all your ills; redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with mercy and compassion" (vv. 1-4). "The Lord does righteous deeds, brings justice to all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, to the Israelites his deeds. Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger, abounding in mercy" (vv. 6-8). "For as the heavens tower over the earth, so his mercy towers over those who fear him" (v. 11).

4. 2nd Reading, 1 Cor. 10:1-6, 10-12 — Paul gives a summary narrative of the Exodus from Egypt. God led Moses and the Israelites through the sea. He provided "spiritual food" (vv. 1-3). They drank "spiritual drink from the rock that followed them and the rock was Christ" (v. 4). Yet God struck most of them down in the desert, as an example for us not to do evil (vv. 5-6). Do not grumble as they did and suffered death. This is a warning for us. Let him who thinks he is secure should take care not to fall" (vv. 10-12).

5. Gospel, Lk. 13:1-9 — A Call to Repentance. Jesus asked the people if the Galileans killed by Pilate or those killed when the tower of Siloam fell were greater sinners than others (vv. 1-4). "By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will perish as they did!" (v. 5).

Jesus then gives a parable on the need of repentance. A man has a fig tree planted in his orchard. Since the fig tree did not bear fruit, he told the gardener to cut it down. The gardener asked that if after a year, it still would not bear fruit, it would be cut down (v. 9). The parable reveals God's continuing patience with those who still need to repent for their sins.