March 23, 2025

Third Sunday of Lent

Lectionary 30

Luke 15:1-3,11-32:

Meditation

A few elements in Our Lady of La Salette's message have changed interpretation. What seemed evident in the 1800s and early 1900s is perceived today by many as inconceivable. This is especially true of “the arm of my Son,” which appears twice in the Beautiful Lady’s discourse.

The image of Mary holding back the arm of Jesus raised to strike sinners appears in many older paintings and sculptures illustrating these words. But today, it is considered scandalous to think that Jesus, who came to save us, would be ready to destroy us and that Mary is now the one keeping us—from him!

This shift is readily apparent when we compare the older version of Our Lady of La Salette's “Memorare” to the one we use today.

1880s: “Remember, our Lady of La Salette, true Mother of sorrows, the tears which thou didst shed for me on Calvary; be mindful also of the unceasing care which thou dost exercise to screen me from the justice of God…”

1970s: “Remember, Our Lady of La Salette, true Mother of sorrows, the tears you shed for me on Calvary. Remember also the care you have always taken to keep me faithful to Christ, your Son.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “If you do not repent, you will all perish.” And in the fig tree parable, he seems to say that there comes a point where there is one last chance. A frightening prospect indeed! And St. Paul writes a similar caution to the Corinthians: “Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.”

The point is not to analyze but to understand Mary’s words in a prophetic sense. She uses a biblical image reminiscent of Exodus 32:11, in which Moses persuades God not to destroy his people. We read in Psalm 106:23 that Moses “withstood” God. How we visualize the scene is much less important than the call to reconciliation, which may take many different forms.