Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Feb. 28, 2016
Moses before the Burning Bush, Domenico Fetti, 1613-14.
God is beyond our imagining. Scripture tells us this over and over. Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts, and our ways are not God’s ways, says Isaiah. It’s no surprise, then, that Scripture stretches our imagination with images that try to capture some sense of God’s power. One such image is fire. God led the Israelites in the wilderness as a pillar of fire and column of smoke. There’s fire, too, as God speaking to Moses from a burning bush. God, who is and always will be, calls Moses to lead the people out of slavery in Egypt to a land flowing with milk and honey.
We hear a voice crying out in the wilderness, alone and thirsty yet nevertheless trusting in God. Even in a barren and dry and probably scary place where there is no water, the Psalmist’s soul thirsts not for mere liquid refreshment but for God, whose loving-kindness is better than life itself. Even in hard times we trust in God, finding comfort under the shadow of God’s wings, held in God’s strong right hand.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
In verses that link our First Reading, Psalm and Gospel, Paul recalls that many of the Israelites died in the wilderness, arguing that this happened because God was not pleased with them. Recalling lessons from Exodus, Paul urges us not to practice idolatry or immorality; don’t put Christ to the test; don’t complain. These things happened to our ancestors to serve as an example to us, reminding us to be faithful when hard times test us, knowing that God will provide us strength through our faith.
Gospel: Luke 13:1-9
Pilate killed a group of Galileans, and more people died unexpectedly when a tower fell. Sometimes bad things happen. Were these people punished because of their sins? Jesus, responding to the crowd’s questions, tells us that God does not punish sin with suffering. But repentance – turning away from bad behavior – brings forgiveness and eternal life. Just as the gardener gives the barren fig tree one more year of nurturing in hope of fruit, we hope for God’s forgiveness … and another chance.