OUR DESTINY: Overcoming the Mediocrity of the Day

                  The readings for Mass today give us a great lesson against one of the toughest vices of our time- mediocrity.  In the first reading, God, hearing the cry of his people in slavery, presents an incredible task to Moses in the midst of his day-to-day work.  God called him to do something great- to influence the trajectory of history. We call to mind our own slavery to sin and unworthy habits in our lives, and how God sent His own son to deliver us from this slavery.

                  The second reading draws more on this as we call to mind those worldly things that enslave us.  In our western world, we have a great tendency to desire comfort. Without knowing it, we often consider situations saying, “What is the best decision here, so that I don’t have to suffer?” or “How can I get out of this uncomfortable situation?”  Our first tendency is often “What is best for me?”  In the same way God called Moses, he appeals to us in our ordinary lives- to live less ordinary- to challenge us out of our commonplace inclinations, and warns us in the last verse of the second reading today, “Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.” (1 Cor. 10:12)

                  Finally, the Gospel today seems to put the concluding dismal touch on our third Lenten Sunday.  Jesus is very clear that sinners will perish- and even goes to the extent of telling the story of the person who wanted to cut down the fig tree for not bearing fruit- in a mere three years!  Yes, while hell is real, it is not our destiny. The Old Testament story we read today is a prefiguration of what Jesus has done for us.  Our eternal destiny is the heavenly kingdom, and our King has shown us how to live. He is a King who gave his life in order to save us. His suffering is unfathomable- He died scourged, with a bloodied face, nailed in humiliation.

                  Yet, we know this is not the dismal end of the story. Our King rose from the dead- and not only did He rise- but He reigned from that cross- “the throne of love.”  Let us “take up our cross and follow Him” if we wish to be His disciples. (Matthew 16:24) For, it is not possible to follow our Lord without the cross.  As we carry this “tree of dazzling beauty,” with knowledge of our sonship, may it lead us to the eternal splendor of our destiny- pure happiness. Forever.