Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We began our Lenten Journey with a cross traced in ashes on the foreheads of all who came to Church on Ash Wednesday as a declaration of the necessity of repentance, of change of heart and of faithfulness to the Gospel values. On the first Sunday of Lent, we met Jesus in the desert being tempted, rising above them and choosing to remain faithful to the Father’s plan for him. On the second Sunday, we met Jesus on the mountain being transfigured, proclaimed the beloved son of God and choosing to continue the journey to Jerusalem to face the judgment, the cross and eventual death and calling all disciples to be faithful – steadfast – on the journey.

Today, on the third Sunday of Lent, we meet Jesus being tested again as he continued his journey to Jerusalem.  Jesus has been talking to his followers about making changes to their lifestyle while there was still time. He told them to be vigilant, to read the signs of the times and make the necessary changes in their lives (Luke 12: 54-59). It was in this context that some men raised the question about the tragedy of the Galileans (today’s Gospel reading). Galileans were inclined to get into political struggles. They were inflammable people. Pilate had decided that Jerusalem needed new and improved water supply. He proposed to use the temple money for this purpose, to construct his aqueduct. The Jews were offended by the idea of using temple money for any purpose other than the needs of the temple.

When the mobs gathered in protest, Pilate instructed his soldiers to mingle with them wearing cloaks over their battle dress for disguise. They were instructed to carry cudgels rather than swords. At a given signal, they were to jump on the mob and disperse them. But the soldiers did more than expected. Many shed their blood, and many lost their lives. It is their blood that got mingled with their sacrifices. The second incident mentioned in this excerpt is about the eighteen on whom the tower of Siloam fell. Some men had taken up work on Pilates hated aqueduct. They were getting paid from the temple money. They were killed when the tower collapsed. Their death was interpreted as the result of sin because they were taking temple money as their payment.

The Jews have rigidly connected sin and suffering. In the Gospel reading of today, we hear Jesus addressing the questions about the connection between sin and suffering. He referred to the two tragic events described above, which his listeners were familiar with. The first was malicious and the second was an unforeseen accident, neither was the result of the sin of the victims.  Jesus used these events to explain that there is no direct connection between sin and suffering.

To read more of this Sunday’s reflection, please click on the link below...