3th Sunday in Lent - Year C



BAPTIZED INTO MOSES

Paul makes an analogy between the Crossing of the Red Sea and Christian Baptism. He talks about the cloud--a symbol of God's presence--which overshadowed the Israelites and the sea water. They were sort of a baptism into Moses. This means that they were immersed into the life that God sent them through Moses. As Christians we enter into God's presence by baptism in which we are immersed in Christ.
His point is that some of those who followed Moses later fell away through sin. As followers of Jesus, we could meet the same fate, unless we remain strong in our faith.

 

An angel appeared to Moses flaming out of bush

 

it may bear fruit in the  future if nt you can  cut it down

all of our ancestors passed under the cloud were baptized in the sea

 

THE GALILEANS WHO SUFFERED

There was a common belief in the Old Testament that all suffering and death was caused by sin. The worse the sin, the worse the disaster. Jesus rejected this idea. He cites two recent events in Jerusalem. There were two groups who died, but had directly opposite beliefs.
The first group were revolutionaries from Galilee. They started a rebellion against the Romans. They were slaughtered in front of the Temple. Their own blood mixed with their sacrifices.
The second group were collaborators with the Romans. They were helping to build a Roman aqueduct to bring water to the pool of Siloam in Jerusalem. The tower they were constructing collapsed and killed them.
Jesus notes that both groups were sincere in their belief that they were doing right. They did not die because of any sin. God wants people to live and bear the fruit of love.

Related: Resources on Sunday Readings - Clipart, homelies, articles, coloring pages, music: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

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