God is always Faithful

02-25-2018Weekly ReflectionFather Tony Okolo, CSSp

Today is the second Sunday of Lent, it is a season of grace, prayer, penance, and almsgiving that equips us get closer to God. The Lenten observances and practices are meaningful if they are carried out in loving obedience and faith to God. Lent, as a season of grace, is a time we leave behind those things that distract us from developing a deeper relationship with God. In today's liturgy, we are called upon to have absolute faith in God irrespective of the challenges and trials that confront us every day. Such challenges can lead to loss of faith in God but from the example of Abraham in the first reading and Paul's injunction in the second we are encouraged to remain firm and steadfast.

In the first reading from the book of Genesis, Abraham our father in faith demonstrates his faith when he did not refused God's instruction to offer his beloved son Isaac. Through the eyes of faith Abraham recognized God and God's call in his life. He is called our father in faith because he put all his hope in the promises of God. That's why when he was called to sacrifice his only son Isaac, whom he loves so much, he did not fret or doubt but obeyed God. At times, God allows things in our lives which we cannot understand. Although this should make us question our powers of understanding, we are instead tempted to question God's love. To dispel all doubt about his love, the Lord does not necessarily explain in details why things are the way they are, rather he speaks to us of his cross. He does not always explain why we suffer but rather that He suffered and died for love of us.

In the same way, Paul in the second reading wants to assure the struggling Christians of Rome of the infinite love of God for them. It is often obvious that when people are besieged by trials and difficulties on every side, it is easy to doubt if God is really for us. To reassure them that, yes, God is still with them in their suffering, Paul makes allusion to the story of Abraham's sacrifice of his son Isaac. He makes this allusion so that the people of God should not be surprised if they are visited with underserved suffering because even God's only Son went through suffering and death that he did not deserve. Again, to underline the strong point of God's infinite love. He who did not withhold his own son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else. Thus, dear friends, let our faith or love for God not weaken when faced with trials and challenges of life. Christ is not a neutral observer recording and judging our actions and failures. He is on our side, supporting us by his grace, to make sure that we do not fall at all. He is very much interested and concerned with every affliction that comes our way and will never abandon us. With this new understanding of Christ who is not a disinterested judge but a committed advocate on our side, Paul concludes by asking a series of questions, which we will do well to answer for ourselves today and always. "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." (Rom 8:33-34)

In the gospel, we hear the beautiful story of the transfiguration as told by Mark. We hear God call out from the cloud "this is my beloved son, listen to him". How often do we really take time out of our day or even week to listen to him? Let us take time now to not only to listen to God but think about what he is telling us to do with our lives and act on it.

Wishing you and your families the blessings of this great season of Lent.

Happy Sunday. Father Tony Okolo

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