First Reading (Exodus 3,1-8a.13-15)
Reading of the Book of Exodus.
In those days, Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, a priest of Midian. It took the herd one day into the desert and arrived at the mountain of God, Horeb. The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire, from the middle of a bush. Moses noticed that the bush was on fire, but was not consumed, and he said to himself: “I am going to approach this extraordinary vision, to see why the bush is not consumed.” The Lord saw Moses approaching to watch and called to him from the bush, saying, “Moses! Moses!” He replied, “Here I am.” And God said, “Do not come near! Take off your sandals, for the place where you are is holy land.” And he added: “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” Moses covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. And the Lord said to him, “I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their cry because of the harshness of their oppressors. Yes, I know their sufferings. I have come down to deliver them from the hands of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that country into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Moses said to God, “Yes, I will go to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.'” But if they ask, ‘What’s your name?’ what shall I answer them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he added, “Thus you shall answer the children of Israel, ‘I am’ has sent me to you.” This is my name forever, and this is how I will be remembered from generation to generation.”
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Second Reading (1Cor 10,1-6.10-12)
Reading of the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant of this: Our fathers were all under the cloud and they all passed through the sea; they were all baptized into Moses, under the cloud and by the sea; and they all ate the same spiritual food, and they all drank the same spiritual drink; in fact, they drank from a spiritual rock that accompanied them – and that rock was Christ -. However, most of them displeased God, as they died and remained in the desert. These facts happened to be examples for us, so that we do not desire bad things, as those in the desert did. Do not murmur, as some of them murmured, and that is why they were killed by the exterminating angel. Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing must be careful not to fall.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Luke 13,1-9)
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, some people came bringing news to Jesus about the Galileans that Pilate had killed, mixing their blood with that of the sacrifices they were offering. Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such a thing? I tell you that they were not. But if you do not convert, you will all die in the same way. And those eighteen who died when the tower of Siloam fell on them? Do you think that they were more guilty than all the other inhabitants of Jerusalem? I tell you that no. But if you do not convert, you will all die the same mode”. And Jesus told this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He went to it to look for figs and found none. Then he said to the vinedresser, ‘I have been looking for figs on this fig tree for three years now and I have found nothing. Cut it down! Why is it making the land useless?’ But he replied: ‘Lord, leave the fig tree this year. I will dig around it and put fertilizer. If it doesn’t, then you will cut it down.’
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
My brothers and sisters, it is common in our lives to come across moments of great uncertainty, when we look at the challenges in front of us and ask ourselves: *”Why am I going through this?”* or *”Where is God in the midst of all this?”* And in moments like this, doubt and despair can invade us. But it is precisely in these moments that today’s readings tell us about a God who is with us, who calls us, who challenges us and who never abandons us, even in the most difficult situations.
In the First Reading, we find Moses in the desert, tending the sheep of his father-in-law, Jethro. He, a man who had previously fled Egypt, now living in a personal and intimate exile, far from the land where he was raised, is experiencing a moment of great transformation. What seemed like a routine without great prospects becomes the stage for God’s call. That desert, which could seem lifeless and hopeless, becomes the place of the most transformative encounter of his life. Moses, with his tired eyes, notices a tree on fire, but the flame does not burn out. A vision that, for him, seems inexplicable and mysterious. The fire doesn’t go out. God manifests himself in a way that breaks our limits of understanding.
God calls Moses by name. And this is the first lesson for us: God knows our name, He calls us individually and with a purpose. Moses is not just a shepherd who tends sheep; he is someone who has a mission. In the same way, all of us, even in the most common routines and in the most difficult moments, have a divine calling. God never stops calling us. He is not a distant God, but a God who makes himself close, who speaks to us in our daily lives.
God reveals His name to Moses: “I am that I am.” This name reveals the eternity, immutability and constant presence of God. He is not a God who changes according to circumstances or seasons of life. He is the firm and constant presence in our lives. However, it is important to understand that responding to this call is not easy. Moses, not yet knowing what lay ahead, fearful and reluctant, asks: *”Who am I to do something so great?”* But God assures him: *”I will be with you.”*
How many times do we feel small in the face of life’s challenges and wonder if we have what it takes to carry out the mission that God places in our hands? Like Moses, we may feel unprepared or worthless. But God doesn’t call us by our perfection, He calls us by our willingness to trust Him. He promises us His constant presence, His strength, His direction. And if God is with us, who can be against us?
In the Second Reading, Saint Paul reminds us that the people of Israel, even though they were freed from slavery in Egypt, were not exempt from difficulties and temptations. He writes: “Nothing has happened to you that is not human.” The apostle warns us against pride and presumption, reminding us that, although we are called to freedom and holiness, we need to live with humility, recognizing our weaknesses and the need for God’s grace.
“Whoever thinks he is standing must take care that he does not fall.” These words of Saint Paul challenge us to reflect on our spiritual life. It’s easy to think that because we are in a comfortable position or have good intentions, we are immune to temptation. But the truth is that the Christian life requires constant vigilance. We must be careful not to fall into false certainties and, even more so, we must remember that God is always willing to help us overcome our weaknesses, if we ask for His help with humility.
In the Gospel, we find a passage that leads us to reflect on tragedy and suffering, universal themes that touch us deeply. Jesus talks about some Galileans who were killed by Pilate while making sacrifices in the temple and about the fall of the tower of Siloam, which killed eighteen people. He questions the listeners: *”Do you think these Galileans were more to blame than other Galileans for having suffered this?”* And He responds, saying: *”No, I tell you, but if you do not repent, you will all perish equally.”*
Jesus is calling us to reflect on the fragility of human life. He is not saying that suffering is a direct consequence of our sins, but he alerts us to the importance of repentance and conversion. Suffering is a reality that we all face at some point, but the way we respond to it is what defines our trajectory. Repentance, a change of heart, frees us from the cycle of purposeless suffering and sets us in the direction of true peace.
The parable of the fig tree that does not bear fruit is an invitation to reflection. The man who planted the fig tree in his vineyard, but after waiting for the fruit for three years, found nothing, decides to cut it down. The fig tree, which symbolizes the people of Israel, was being given one last chance to bear fruit, to generate life. The gardener, however, intercedes, asking for more time, an opportunity for it to have a chance to produce fruit. The fig tree is not discarded immediately, but receives the care and attention necessary to bear fruit. And this teaches us something very important: God is patient with us. He gives us time and opportunities to repent and bear fruit of holiness, but that time is not infinite. Conversion requires action, effort and decision from us. We can’t wait forever.
What does the parable of the fig tree tell us? That it is time to bear fruit, time to live according to God’s calling. Like the fig tree, we are called to bear fruit, to live in a way that reflects the grace we have received. But we can’t wait forever to get started. God’s time is now. God’s patience should not deceive us, as He gives us time, but this time is an invitation to conversion.
So, my brothers and sisters, what is our response to God’s call? Are we like Moses, who, despite doubts and fears, chooses to follow God’s direction? Or are we like the fig tree, which has not yet borne fruit, but is being given one more chance to produce life? It doesn’t matter what has happened so far, what matters is the decision we make now, at this moment.
With each new day, God gives us the chance to grow, to repent and to bear fruit. He calls us by our own humanity, by our history, with all our limitations and weaknesses. We don’t need to be perfect to be used by God. We do need a willing heart, a life open to His grace. There is no time to waste. God’s call is urgent, and He is with us, enabling us to live the mission given to us.
Today, as we leave here, let us remember that the Christian life is not an easy life, but it is a life full of grace, full of possibilities for transformation. God calls us by name, He gives us His strength, and He offers us the time of conversion. May we take advantage of this time, open our hearts and begin to bear fruit that glorifies Him, with the certainty that He is always with us. So be it. Amen.
