A matter of trusting…
Reflections on the readings for the Second Sunday of Lent (March 8, 2020): GN 12:1-4; PS 33:4-5,18-19,20,22; 2 TM 1:8-10; MT 17:1-9
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days
In his letter to St. Timothy, St. Paul speaks both very personally and very forcefully.
“Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. He saved us and called us to a holy life… through the appearance of our savior Jesus Christ, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy1:8-10). Paul wants Timothy and all those to whom he spreads the Good News to accept the fact that the life to which Christians have been called is not an easy one. Moreover, we need to believe from the depths of our soul that we must work through God’s grace and – like Jesus – embrace God’s eternal plan.
In the reading from Genesis, we hear God tell Abram, or Abraham, that he will be a blessing to the whole world. He would have an extraordinary role in the Father’s design for the salvation of all humankind. And Abraham’s response was to do exactly what he was told. Most of us are not given such clear directions for what we are to do and how we are to do it. Yet God counts on us, nonetheless, to follow the path He has laid out for us. Like Paul and Timothy, we need to put ourselves into God’s hands and depend on His strength and power, not on our own. Each day this Lent, we can ask Jesus to help us follow Him and willingly do whatever He asks of us. Then we will imitate Christ and communicate His Gospel message in what we do each day, through our attitudes, words, prayers and actions.
Suggested missionary action: We can live the Gospel by sharing the blessings God has given us with our sisters and brothers in need. Our support for the Church’s missions around the world will assist those in spiritual and material want.