Homily for the Third Sunday of Lent, Year A

Christ Is The Rock And The Gushing Water 

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Third Sunday of Lent, Year A

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Brooklyn Center, MN

Sunday, March 12, 2023

The book of Exodus is the second book of the Bible that narrates the exodus and liberation of ancient Israel from slavery in Egypt in the 13th century BC. Before their historic escape, they were slaves in Egypt. And during those long years, they experienced unspeakable suffering in the hands of their host, the Egyptians. They were subjected to hard labor and harsh treatment. As a result, they lamented all day, and cried all night. After 400 years of grueling and bruising anguish, God stepped in. He became personally and intensely involved to set things right and to right the wrongs. To set their freedom in motion, God chose a young Israelite man, named Moses. At the time when Moses was chosen by God, he was running away from Egypt. Why? Moses was born when the enslaved Jews were forbidden from having male children. Any male child born, according to the rule of Pharaoh, was to be put to death. Moses was rescued by the daughter of Pharaoh, and was raised in the environment of power, favored position and great opportunities. Despite his privileged position, the heart of Moses was with God’s enslaved people. As a true Jew, Moses was interested in the welfare of his fellow Israelites. One day, upon seeing an Egyptian beating an Israelite, he attacked the Egyptian and killed him. To save his own life, Moses fled the land and went to the land of Midian. Towards the end of his 40 year sojourn in Median, Moses was shepherding his father-in-law’s flock (Jethro by name) near Mount Horeb when he was amazed to see a thorn bush flaming with fire but not being consumed. It was there that he encountered God who now informed him that he, Moses, has been appointed as the deliverer of his people. 

Under the leadership of Moses, the Israelites escaped from Egypt. On their way to the Promised Land, they found themselves without water and immediately began to complain to Moses saying, “Why did you ever make us leave Egypt? Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and livestock?” Because of momentary thirst, they forgot that the same God who performed great miracles through his servant Moses as they were making their exit from Egypt is also able to provide their immediate need of water. Because of thirst, they actually preferred remaining well fed slaves to hungry free people. Because of surmountable thirst, they quickly forgot that the great mighty God of battle is also a great provider (Yahweh Jireh). 

But the God of Israel is faithful. He will not bring you out of trouble and then abandons you halfway. If God is leading you through the dark, he is not going to abandon you halfway in the journey. His light will not cease. If it appears that his light is fading or has faded, it is you who moved, not God. God is a faithful God. In 2 Timothy 2:13, St. Paul says that “Even if we are not faithful, God remains faithful because he cannot be false to himself.” So, the shifting spiritual position of Israel did not affect God’s kindness and compassion. Once Moses prayed to God and said, “What shall I do with this people? A little more and they will stone me,” God answered him. God does not disappoint. When God sends you on a mission, he does not leave you all by yourself; he follows you. He accompanies you as you carry out his injunction. Instructing Moses, God said to him, “Go over there in front of the people, along with some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the river. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink.” Here is the watchword, “This Moses did, in the presence of the elders of Israel.” With this, God demonstrated again to the Israelites that his name is Yahweh Jireh, God the great provider. 

Sisters and brothers, the rock that Moses struck represents our Lord Jesus Christ. Speaking about Jesus, Peter said he is the living stone rejected by the people as but chosen by God and precious in the sight of God (1 Peter 2:4). From this rock will come forth springs of living water. From this rock will burst forth the fountain of life. From this rock will emerge a new life, a new era, a new dawn, a new history and a new experience. Jesus is the Rock. He is also the water that bursts forth from the rock. Jesus is the water of life. In the Gospel of John 7:37, Jesus declares, “Whoever is thirsty should come to me and drink” (John 7: 37). Jesus is indeed the Rock. He is also the living water. Are you thirsty? Are you vulnerable? Are you standing on a sinking sand? You need Jesus desperately. 

Christ is my rock, my refuge, my stronghold

Firm as the tree’s root that clutches the land

He who has faith builds without worry, not like the man who builds upon sand

I set my house on a solid foundation

Christ is my rock, the root of my soul’s recreation.