Human beings and…God: the story of a relationship!
Would you agree to such a title?
Do you recognize it as a REALITY?
Somehow, he – God – is the one leading us to see this.
But, thinking more about it, we must discover what kind of relationship God wants with us…
Today’s 1st reading gives us the beginning of an answer (Genesis 12:1-4).
There, we meet Abram who is told by God:
“Go from your country, your people and your father’s household
to the land I will show you.”
The rest of the text tells us more about what God says to Abram.
Seven promises – a symbolic number in the Bible for full measure –
yes, seven promises are given to the old man.
But… all the verbs outlining what is to come are precisely… in the future tense!
Abram must go now, what will happen to him… he cannot see…
He can only trust the words of the Lord to make all those good things happen.
If we look at our own lives, we realize that they are filled with God’s gifts and blessings.
There is one thing that God wants from us,
one that he especially expects from us: TRUST.
Trust that he loves us and cares for us.
Trust that we are precious to him and that he is always near.
Trust that he will not fail to provide us with all that we need.
Trust that he will not abandon us, no matter what happens.
Trust that even if we are unfaithful, he will remain faithful to us.
This message is constantly repeated by the prophets of the Old Testament.
And it is at the very heart of Jesus’ message:
“The Father Himself loves you.” (John 16:27)
“Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8)
Perhaps, this is the one thing that we need to learn anew in this period of Lent…
Trusting God, no matter what… he CANNOT fail us.
Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/2e-dimanche-du-careme-annee-a-2023/
Source: Image: John Dobbs