3rd Sunday of Lent
First reading – Exodus 17:3-7
“Is the Lord with us, or not?”. This is the question we face in every crisis of our life. Even now with all the natural disasters, epidemic and wars around us, we sometimes are prompted to ask this question. People complaining against Moses. Moses feeling threatened by the people. Moses appealing to the Lord. Complaints, threats and appeals. The realities of our daily life too. The Lord answers: “Take with you some of the elders of Israel and move on to the forefront of the people; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the river and go. I shall be standing before you there on the rock, at Horeb. You must strike the rock, and water will flow from it for the people to drink.” Walking the elders to the forefront, taking the staff, encountering the Lord who stand before the rock, striking the rock. This is what we must do to strengthen ourselves in faith. Walking with the saints of the Church, not following the crowd but going to the forefront, receiving the sacraments, meeting the Lord in the Word of God, and making the difference in life. Let’s reflect: Lent is the time to strengthen ourselves in faith by making a difference in life.