In the First reading From the Book Of
Exodus
Ex 3:1-8a,13-15
In constantly reforming our lives, we must check where God fits into our set of values. The tradition found in this reading teaches that God is not far away. Moses experienced him in the situation of the desert. Last week the image of "a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch" was used to teach about God's presence. Today it is again fire that symbolizes God's closeness. By using this imagery, the Old Testament teaches exactly the same thing that Paul taught in concise language: "In him [God] we live and move and have our being."
Moses experienced God as "One who cares," and during his life he grew in intimacy with God. An example to be followed.
The Responsorial Psalm is that that we put our trust in Jesus because of his love and kindness and that he has done great things for us, so we should be filled with joy and love for him and to be like him
in your self-giving.
In the Second Reading, From the Letter of Saint Paul
to the Corinthians
1 Cor 10:1-6,10-12
Paul indicates how we should read the Bible. The sacred writers did not relate ancient traditions just to inform us. Neither does the Church want us to listen to them every three years in order to entertain us. The Bible is not a bedside story book! Inspired by God, the authors of the Bible want to teach us religious values by relating traditions of the past.
In this passage, Paul refers to some events, as he knew them from the Old Testament and observes: These things happened as examples for us.... (Gn13, 14, 16, 17, Nm 14, 20)They have been written down as a warning to us."
In reading the Bible we should always try to find the point ( God's word to us) and apply it prayerfully to our own situation.
In the Gospel of Luke
Lk 9:28b-36
This Gospel tradition refers to violent reprisals by the Romans who occupied Israel during Jesus' lifetime. There were constant uprisings on the part of the Jewish people that finally culminated in the wholesale destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. According to popular thinking , disaster and suffering were caused by sin. Jesus corrects this way of thinking, but takes these incidents as a stepping stone to teach about penance and reform using the parable of the fig tree to illustrate his lesson.
This lesson is God's word to you and me. Check your priority of values and ask yourself where God fits in! Stating that everything is all right means stating that you are "old" nad not growing anymore as a person. We need constantly ongoing reform and growth into what God has designed us to be for all eternity.
