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Our first two Gospels for Lent this year were the Temptation of Jesus in the desert and the Transfiguration. They were interpreted in terms of the Old Testament readings for each Sunday. The Temptation account was read in terms of Moses’ instruction to those about to enter the Promised Land, that they should present to the Lord the first fruits of the Land of Promise and acknowledge that they are sons of Abraham (the wandering Aramean) and that it is the Lord who gives them this land as their own. The Transfiguration was read in terms of the covenant God made with Abraham, that He would give the descendants of Abraham the land of Canaan and that they would be as numerous as the stars of heaven. Jesus then is understood as the faithful one who would not fail the Lord as Moses and Israel had failed during forty years of wandering in the desert and that he would effect a new exodus, not to another land but to glory everlasting as he is seen speaking with Moses and Elijah who are long dead.

Today we hear of Jesus speaking about tragedies that occurred and resulted in death. Jesus asks whether people thought these tragedies occurred because of the sins of those who died? Was it their sins that brought about their death? Jesus says no, but his hearers must repent of their own sins lest they perish suddenly without repentance. Then he tells them a parable about a fig tree that bore no fruit. The servant wanted to cut it down but the gardener said no, I will dig around it and give it manure and perhaps it will bear fruit. Out first reading is Moses’ encounter with the Lord in the burning bush. Moses is a wanted man who God calls to bring his people out of slavery in Egypt. God tells Moses his name, I am who am, so that he can tell the Israelites that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will deliver them. It has been a very long time since the Lord promised Abraham the land of Canaan but God is faithful to his promise and has not forgotten. Now He will bring this people out of slavery and give them the land of Canaan. They will know that the Lord is the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, the One Who Is, who will deliver them.

St. Paul tells us in the second reading that Christ is the spiritual Rock who followed the Israelites for forty years in the desert to the Promised Land. He is the Rock Moses struck to give them water and sustain them on their long journey. They were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea but they grumbled against Moses and the Lord and perished in the desert. None of those who were slaves in Egypt made it to the Promised Land. We are baptized into Christ who has given us a promise of glory beyond the wanderings of this world. We must repent of our sins or we will perish in the desert. God is patient with us as He was with Israel. He nourishes the fig tree and sustains it but He is looking for the fruit. Whoever thinks he is standing secure before the Lord should take care not to fall.    

Msgr George Brubaker

Rev. Michael McDermott, Associate Pastor\

Rev. Magana Magana Savaldor, Associate Pastor

Mr. James Malloy, Deacon

Mr. Anthony Bianco, Deacon

Mr. Scott Landis, Deacon

Mr. John  Yaeger, Deacon

Mrs. Maritza Ortiz, CRE St. John's

Mrs. Dawn Curtis, CRE, St. Bernadette's

Mr. Henry Grabowski, Business Manager

Mrs. Bonnie Demar, Administrative Assistant

Mr. C. Gene Wright, Finance Executive Officer

Ms. Cathy Crusco, Director of Music

Parish Council

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