"LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER"

Third Sunday of Lent, Year B

Ex.20:1-17; Ps. 18; 1 Cor.1:22-25; Jn.2:13-25

Bridges are very important. That is why every time disasters strike, bridges are the first ones to be rebuilt. We need them in order for an easy and effective flow of our goods and resources. Can you imagine Leyte and Samar without the San Juanico Bridge?

When we want to have an immediate result of our requests from the government like business or health permits, we usually look for “bridges” who can make us do away with the long list of requirements.

Even in your love life, when you want to know someone who caught your heart at first glance, you usually look for someone who can be your “bridge” toward that significant other. Just be careful, usually, ang nagkakatuluyan ay hindi kayo kundi ang “bridge” at siya na gusto mo. Ouch!

In our first reading, we heard the famous story of the giving of the Ten Commandments by God to Moses. The Law was given to the Israelites not for them to be controlled and ruled over by God. The Hebrew word for “law” is “derek” which means “way.” Thus, the Law serves as the way for them to remain faithful to their covenant with God. The Decalogue was their bridge to God!

In our Gospel, the Temple plays a very significant role in the lives of the Jews. Every year, they make it a point to visit the Temple and offer sacrifices as a way for them to renew their covenant with God. Thus, the Temple serves as their bridge to God. However, when Jesus said, “Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up!” He was introducing to them a new “bridge” – his very self. His mission on earth was to restore that broken bridge between man and His Father because of sin.

And this is the core message of Paul’s preaching in our second reading today. He proclaims Christ Crucified, who for the Jews is a stumbling block and for the Gentiles a foolishness, but for Christians, for us, is our only bridge back to the Father.

Why insist on such proclamation? Why is Jesus, the only bridge to the Father? St. John in his letters has told us that “God is love.” Therefore, only love can bridge us to the Father. And it was through that event at Calvary that such perfect bridge was constructed! It was through that dying on the cross that love was seen at its most perfect moment. And such most perfect moment was also the same moment when we were able to cross over the bridge and reach the dwelling place of God. It was through Christ’s bridge of love that our humanity once again experienced divinity.

This is therefore our challenge for us followers of Christ Crucified – that we too become bridges for others to experience the love of God. Pope Francis in his Lenten Message 2015 has reminded us about the reality of the “globalization of indifference” – when we are no longer sensitive to the needs of others; when we no longer allow others to pass by our bridge so that they too can enjoy life. And our Pope has taught us that only through love can we stop this indifference.

In this Third Sunday of Lent, let us be “bridges” so that others will reach their destination safely; so that others will also come to know and experience the abundance of God’s love and mercy. May we learn to allow people no matter who they are to pass by our bridge through our small acts of kindness and forgiveness like Christ who became our bridge to the Father.

The famous American music duo, Simon and Garfunkel, once sang this song for us:          When you’re weary, feeling small

  When tears are in yours eyes, I’ll dry them all.

  I’m on your side, oh, when times get rough

  And friends just can’t be found

  Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay you down

  Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay you down

How about you? Are you a bridge for those people in troubled waters? Or are you the cause of why are they in troubled waters? Amen.

N.B. Photo taken from http://unbornmind.com/myblog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/bridge-over-troubled-waters.jpg