Third Sunday of Lent C 2022

INTRO:

I have mentioned to you before that I was not the “brightest light to hit the socket” when I was in school! Obviously, I made it, but did have some difficulties along the way.

For instance, we had an intense chemistry teacher in the seminary college program. She gave all of us a project that was due on such and such a date… I was overwhelmed with so many other things to get done before the end of the quarter (besides, I hated chemistry… sorry folks) I knew that I was not going to meet the deadline and would then FAIL the course.
I went to her and begged for an extension. She paused, huffed, and then said:

James, I will give you a WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY…. A one-week extension to finish the project!

I said: AMEN! And was able to finish the project and pass the course!

Jesus offered us the tale about the FIG TREE. If you hear closely, the FIG TREE is a type of each one of US and a warning to each one of us to produce fruit or accomplish the project of life as Jesus wants of each of us.

Yes, the Lord is kind and merciful, but He only gives us a WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY (or a window of grace) to build up our lives and bear fruit.

And what kind of fruit are we supposed to bear? It is simple to name and difficult to accomplish.

Saint Paul teaches us that the difficulty Christians may have in bearing good fruit are the works of the flesh that take control of us:
immorality, impurity, sorcery, jealousy, selfishness, drunkenness, carousing, and the like.
These prevent us from doing what we ought to be doing; practicing the fruits of the Spirit granted to us freely in the sacrament of Confirmation!
Love peace joy patience kindness goodness gentleness faithfulness and self-control.

The Church is telling us in the THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT to take advantage of God’s mercy and His window of opportunity that is only so long in our short lives on earth and to profoundly work on changing our lives around …. Especially, if the works of the flesh have gotten hold of us.

CONCLUSION:

This is one of the biggest reasons YOU ARE HERE today either in the pews or in the livestream. You want to change your lives for the better and you know that it could ONLY BE DONE WITH THE HELP of our Savior Jesus Christ, His body, soul, and divinity when you take holy communion, nourishing yourselves in this great mystery to bear fruit that will last!