Third Sunday of Lent

Readings for Sunday: Exodus, 1 Corinthians, Luke

Suffering is one of the great and universal mysteries of human life. Immense suffering – such as grueling cancer treatment, a catastrophic car accident, or the unexpected loss of a loved one – touches nearly everyone. We often ask, “Why?” Some believe suffering is God’s punishment, but today’s Gospel provides clarity: God does not cause suffering, though He permits it for our salvation.

Many assume suffering is divine retribution, but Jesus refutes this idea when addressing the tragic deaths of Galileans under Pontius Pilate. If suffering were punishment, then all sinners would suffer equally. Instead, suffering exists because of human free will. From Adam and Eve’s original sin to historical atrocities like the Holocaust, much suffering is caused by human choices. Even natural disasters reflect a world thrown into disorder by sin.

So why does God permit suffering? The Gospel’s parable of the barren fig tree offers insight: like the gardener who nurtures the tree to bear fruit, God allows suffering to transform us, making us holy. Many believe they are already good enough for heaven, yet Jesus calls for true repentance. Without transformation, heaven would not be paradise but a continuation of our earthly failings.

God permitted Jesus’ suffering on the cross, drawing ultimate good—our salvation—from evil. Likewise, suffering purifies and prepares us for eternal life. While we may not understand suffering’s purpose in the moment, faith assures us that God uses it to sanctify us. In the end, His love and the power of Christ’s sacrifice will bring us eternal joy.