The Human Heart and Divine Patience of God

The Human Heart and Divine Patience of God Third Sunday of Lent Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15, Luke 13:1-9

“I am who I am.”

Do we truly know who God is? In today's first readings, we encounter one of the most profound mysteries of God's personal name—"I am who I am." Through this name, as well as through the entirety of Scripture, we learn a few key things about God. Yet, the truth is that what we know is but a fraction of who God is. As St. Augustine famously said, “IT IS A DROP IN THE OCEAN.” If we could fully grasp the entirety of God, then He would no longer be God. He would be the god we've constructed in our minds. As St. Augustine said, “If you understand God, what you understand isn’t God.”

Throughout history, some people have misunderstood God. For example, in the 2nd century, Marcion of Sinope claimed that there were two gods—one from the Old Testament, who was harsh and vengeful, impatient and remote, and another from the New Testament, who was loving, forgiving, patient, and merciful.

But this idea is not true. There is only one God—just, merciful, close, patient, loving, and righteous. The more we learn about God through the Bible, the more we realize we can never fully grasp the depth of His nature.  Still, there are two main characteristics of God revealed in today’s readings that we can reflect on:

1. God, Who Is Close to Us: A Human Heart

The first characteristic revealed today is that God is deeply personal and very close to us. In the first reading from Exodus, we see God speaking directly to Moses, saying:

“I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have HEARD their cry of complaint against their slave drivers, so I KNOW WELL what they are suffering. Therefore, I have COME DOWN to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and LEAD them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”

These words convey a God who is not distant but intimately involved with His people, who feels their suffering and responds with love.

This human closeness to God finds its fullest expression in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is fully God and fully human. Though we can never fully grasp it, we have a God who walks with us, who comforts us in our fear, who strengthens us in our weakness. We have a God whose heart beats alongside ours, who understands our joys and sorrows, and who is always nearby.

Jesus went to heaven with his full humanity. With a glorified body and having a human heart.

We have a God who has a human heart in heaven. a God who sees, hears, knows our suffering

The God who spoke to Moses in the burning bush is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.

2. God, Who Is Patient with Us

The second key characteristic of God in today's readings is His incredible patience. God is so patient with us. For generations, He endured the suffering of the Israelites, always offering them a chance to turn back to Him. We see this same patience in the parable of the fig tree in the Gospel of Luke. The gardener says: “SIR, LEAVE IT FOR THIS YEAR ALSO, AND I SHALL CULTIVATE THE GROUND AROUND IT AND FERTILIZE IT; IT MAY BEAR FRUIT IN THE FUTURE.”

The gardener, who symbolizes Christ, shows us God’s patience. He knows that growth takes time. God doesn’t rush us. He is so patient with sinners; he gently works in our hearts, hoping we will bear good fruit in the right season.

Story: Once, there was a man named Patrick who lived in a small village. Patrick was known for making bad choices, stealing things from people, and hurting those around him. Nobody likes him.  He knew deep down that he was drifting away from God, and he knew that everyone hated him. Over time, his heart grew heavy with guilt and regret.

One day, while walking by a peaceful river, Asking questions about what was wrong with him, Patrick heard a voice calling his name. "Patrick, why are you carrying this burden alone?" Patrick, feeling unworthy, replied, "I have failed so many times. I have done so many bad things.  Can I still become a good person?

Patrick heard another voice again, "My child, my patience is greater than all your mistakes. I am always here, waiting for you to return to me. No matter how many times you fall, I will never stop loving you."

Patrick, amazed at what he heard,  felt a peace in his heart that he had never known. He realized that no matter how far he had gone, God’s patience would never end. He knelt by the river and prayed for the first time in years.  From that day on, Patrick decided to change his ways of life and try to do everything to become a better person.

The Challenge: Our Openness to God’s Cultivation

Lent is the season of embracing and reflecting on God’s human heart and His infinite patience. But let us also examine our own hearts. Are we allowing God to work in us, to cultivate the soil of our souls? If we truly believe in the God who is near, who is patient, and who gives us second chances, then we must ask ourselves: Are we bearing the fruit that He desires? If we think that no matter what we will do, God will be very patient and forgive us. Then, the last sentence of the Gospel is worth thinking. “IF NOT YOU CAN CUT IT DOWN.’”

“whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.”

May we always open our hearts for God’s work in our lives so that when the Lord comes back,, he will find us bearing much fruits.

I. Introduction

Mystery of God's Name: "I am who I am" (Exodus 3:14).

St. Augustine’s Wisdom:  “IT IS A DROP IN THE OCEAN. ”If you understand God, what you understand isn’t God."

Misunderstandings of God: Example of Marcion of Sinope (2nd century) and his idea of two gods.

ü OT; harsh and vengeful, impatient and remote,

ü NT; loving, forgiving, patient, and merciful.

One True God: God is just, merciful, patient, loving, righteous and very close to us.

II. Two Key Characteristics of God Revealed in Today’s Readings

God, Who Is Close to Us: A Human Heart

Exodus 3:7-8: God sees, hears, and knows the suffering of His people.

“I HAVE WITNESSED THE AFFLICTION OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT AND HAVE HEARD THEIR CRY OF COMPLAINT AGAINST THEIR SLAVE DRIVERS, SO I KNOW WELL WHAT THEY ARE SUFFERING. THEREFORE, I HAVE COME DOWN TO RESCUE THEM FROM THE HANDS OF THE EGYPTIANS AND LEAD THEM OUT OF THAT LAND INTO A GOOD AND SPACIOUS LAND, A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY.”

God’s Personal Nature: He is not distant but involved in the lives of His people.

The Full Expression of God’s Closeness in Jesus: Jesus is fully God and fully human.

God’s Presence in Our Lives: He walks with us, understands our joys and sorrows, and is always near.

God, Who Is Patient with Us

God’s Patience with the Israelites: Continual offering of second chances.

The Parable of the Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9): The gardener (Christ) is patient, working to cultivate and fertilize.

God’s Patience with Us: He doesn’t rush our spiritual growth but gently works in our hearts over time.

III. Story of Patrick: God’s Patience in Action

Patrick's Struggles: A man known for bad choices, guilt, and isolation.

God’s Call: A voice of patience and love speaks to Patrick, offering peace and forgiveness. "Patrick, why are you carrying this burden alone?" Patrick, feeling unworthy, replied, "I have failed so many times. I have done so many bad things.  Can I still become a good person?

"MY CHILD, MY PATIENCE IS GREATER THAN ALL YOUR MISTAKES. I AM ALWAYS HERE, WAITING FOR YOU TO RETURN TO ME. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU FALL, I WILL NEVER STOP LOVING YOU."

Transformation: felt at peace for the first time;  decided to become a better person.

IV. The Challenge: Our Openness to God’s Cultivation

Lent as a Time of Reflection: Embracing God’s human heart and patience.

Examining Our Hearts: Are we allowing God to work in us and cultivate our souls?

Bearing Fruit: If we believe in God’s patience and second chances, are we producing the fruits He desires?

Warning from the Gospel (Luke 13:9): “IF NOT, YOU CAN CUT IT DOWN.”

Call to Action: Open our hearts to God’s work so that when He returns, we will bear much fruit.

V. Conclusion

IF NOT YOU CAN CUT IT DOWN.’”

“whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.”

May we always open our hearts for God’s work in our lives so that when the Lord comes back,, he will find us bearing much fruits.