2nd Sunday of Lent

Our readings for the 7th Sunday of Lent are:

1. Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18
2. Psalms 27: 1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14
3. Philippians 3: 17- 4: 1
4. Luke 9: 28b-36

• Chosen
• It's hard to imagine what it must have been like for Abram to put his faith in God.  In his day, gods were far more tangible, and tied to a specific country or people.  This God that Abram worshiped is different.  Abram must have felt very much alone.  You wonder what Sarah and her family thought of all of this.
• What are some things that you have had to leave behind in your life as you have followed God?  They might be familiar places, a community, family, a job that you loved, family, ...
• How did you know that it was time to leave them behind?
• Did you feel that God was asking too much of you at the time?
• Would you make the same decision again?
  

• The face of God
• Imagine that you are face to face with God.  He has something very important that He wants to tell you, and He has manifested Himself to you because He wants to make absolutely sure that you get this directly from Him.
• You are ushered into His presence, and He looks deep into your eyes and says to you "I love you, without qualification, without bound, without any merit on your part."
• Silence falls between the two of you as you let that affirming love touch you.
• Finally, God speaks again: "do you love me?"
• Where does that conversation go from there?
  

• Called to hope
• Building is a statement of hope.  Building a community, a family, writing a book, are all aimed at the future, a future made brighter because of sacrifices made today.
• What do you hope for from your life?
• What do you hope is being built/created this very moment in your life?
• Do you have to be around to see that thing come to pass for it to be worthwhile?
• Why do you have this hope?
  

• Sacred Silence
• It's hard sometimes to fall silent before God, let His Presence envelope you, and let your presence tabernacle with Him.  It feels oddly wasteful, as though there must be something more important, more urgent that needs to be done.  Nothing could be further from the truth.
• What in your life has ever been inspired to silence?
• What did you get from that silence?
• Was it worth it?
• Could you have received that blessing any other way?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
• Do I truly embrace the fact that all that I have is gift?
• Do I really believe in God's unremitting love?
• Am I acting out of hope?
• Where might God be calling me to deeper trust?

Great Exodus

The sacrificial offering lies on the burning sand.

Waiting for me and my God to journey through it.

To emerge at the other side covenanted forever.

 

The blood of their freshly sacrificed corpses gleams.

Catching the last rays of the setting sun.

Reminding me that I, too, will soon be dying.

 

Dying to my old ways, becoming a new man.

Born of God, born of a mutual pledge stronger than death.

Transformed by this convent into a child of God.

 

My eyes travel over this familiar country once again.

Reveling in each well worn curve of hill and valley.

Knowing that I will never see it quite this way again.

 

I wonder what this convent will ask of me in the years ahead.

What journeys lie ahead of me.

In wonder, I realize that I no longer care.

 

All that I ask is that each journey, each step -

Brings me closer to God, closer to His destiny for me.

And I know now that I am ready to set my foot upon this path.

 

Shalom!