Kindly ignore the previous post for Mar 23, 2025. This is the correct one.
“Having the Wellspring of Hope, even when life traps us in ‘the dark mines of difficulties and despair!'”
(Based on Exod 3:1-8a, 13-15, 1 Cor10:1-6, 10-12 and Lk 13:1-9 – 3rd Sunday of Lent, Cycle C)
August 5, 2010.
In the San José Mine of Chile, a sudden collapse trapped 33 miners under 2,300 feet of rock.
The world above had no way of knowing if they were alive.
Days passed.
No food. No water.
Just darkness, heat, and despair.
Seventeen days later, when all hope seemed lost, a drill finally broke through.
As it was pulled back up, a small note was attached: “Estamos bien en el refugio, los 33” – “We are well in the shelter, all 33 of us.”
The world erupted in joy!
The rescue mission intensified.
But there was one problem – getting them out would take time…
… the miners would have to survive 52 more days underground.
But down below, something remarkable was happening
Cut off from the world, these men turned to God.
Many of them had never thought about God before. But now?
Now they realized – no money, no success, no strength could save them.
Only God could.
Buried beneath the earth, they discovered that even in this “unfortunate situation,” God was very powerfully with them.
And later, when they were finally rescued—after 69 days in darkness, one of them testified:
“We were 33… but God made us 34.
He was with us the whole time.”
Life often traps us in ‘the dark mines of difficulties and despair!”
But we are reminded – especially in this Jubilee Year of Hope, that “Hope does not disappoint!” (Cf. Rom 5:5)
God is always with us!
The Gospel of the Day opens our eyes to consider the “Jesus” way of looking and understanding such “uneventful” mishaps and “tragic” calamities.
Humanity is a daily witness to calamities, catastrophes, adversities and disasters.
Tragedies occur in the life of every human being.
Every now and then, we hear of many reports of unpredictable or unimaginable misfortunes occurring in the lives of people – tsunamis, floods, earthquakes – or bomb blasts, mass killings, wars etc.
In our own personal lives too, we experience a lot of painful moments…
…. very often, unexpectedly.
In the face of all these horrors… we are faced with many doubts and questions:
Why do these things happen to the innocent?
Why doesn’t the Good and Loving God do anything about all this?
Sometimes, we even take on a critical and judgmental attitude and say, “Probably, God is punishing all these people for their sins or their misdeeds”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is presented with a couple of human tragedies and made to react on them.
The first tragedy is about the Galileans who suffered at the hands of Pilate (Lk 13: 1-3)
The second is about the people who dies when the tower of Siloam fell on them (Lk 13: 4)
The first one is about a disaster brought about because of the cruel deeds of human beings
The second because of the misfortunes in nature.
In both these cases, however, the people who died, were mere subjects to death…
They had an unfortunate death, without perhaps really being guilty.
And so the natural reaction of the people of the times was that, the people who died would have been greater sins, and they are being punished by God.”
“These people deserved death because of their sins” was the popular slogan of those times.
Perhaps, when faced with calamities, we too often take upon this judgmental attitude,
But here Jesus points out the great reality…
These calamities and disasters are not to be another occasion for us to pass judgments
Rather, they become golden opportunities for us to make a self-reflection on our lives.
Like the tree which is given one more year – to be dug around, to be given manure and to produce… these tragedies and events in life, present us with more time to examine, how do we live our lives.
Do we take our lives for granted?
Perhaps, we have a tendency to often think there is plenty of time in life.
And complacency creeps into our life.
But these tragedies point to us the fact, that after all human life is very short.
And in this short-lived life, we need to make the best use of God’s graces to repent and to lead a Holy life.
In Rev 22.7, Jesus says “Behold, I am coming soon”
As Christians, we believe in the Coming of the Lord.
No one knows the hour
No one knows the day
But, being prepared, being vigilant always, is a must, is a necessity.
St Paul tells us: “we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ…” (Eph 4:15)
Human tragedies and personal misfortunes are to be understood as God’s manifestations of Love for us, to have our lives set clearly on our priorities for God and His Kingdom
They are not to evoke fear or elements of judging
Rather, should prompt us to take life more seriously, and to make Real Repentance and live a Holier lives.
Through the call narrative of Moses, God reminds all of us, that He is aware of our struggles, and He seeks to always save us:
“I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry…
… I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them…” (Cf. Exod 3:7-8)
To grow in our love and trust in the Lord, one of the practical tip that we all need to practice is the Daily Examination of Conscience.
When we daily examine our conscience, and make efforts to amend our lives with true repentance, we are able to live the graces that are showered on us.
Also, a meaningful Regular Confession helps us not only to be forgiven of our sins, but also gives grace to lead a more holy and unblemished life.
Live will often trap us in “the dark mines of difficulties and despair!”
Yet, even in the deepest darkness, there is a wellspring of hope.
Let us be vigilant and keep guard over the sanctity of our lives…
… and Be His, forever!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Fourth Commandment
The fourth commandment opens the second table of the Decalogue.
It shows us the order of charity. (CCC # 2197)
Reflection Capsules 