Trust in God's Plan for Those You Love

"...because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son,
I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless
as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore;
...and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing—
all this because you obeyed my command."

~Genesis 22:16-18

 

Lent is a time for giving things up, detaching from sin, and drawing closer to God. Things like candy, coffee, or alcohol often top the list of Lenten sacrifices: such things are good in moderation but can become addictions that threaten our spiritual or physical health. Fasting helps us to detach from such temptations, so they will not lure us away from God and His plan for our lives.

But what about those things that seem inherently good, like our love for another person? Is there ever a time when we should detach from someone we love, giving them over with complete trust to God’s plan? We see this happen in today’s readings when God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Could any parent imagine how Abraham must have felt walking up that mountain, obedient to God’s plan even when he is asked to give up his beloved son? And Isaac, a strong young man, could have easily overcome his elderly father and rebelled against being laid on that altar, but he was also obedient and submitted, even to death. Because Abraham didn’t allow his love for his son to supplant his love for the Lord, and Isaac was ready to lay down his life, God not only protected Isaac but also poured out abundant blessings on Abraham and all his descendants.

Abraham’s story prefigures the story of Jesus Christ. In today’s Gospel, Jesus also goes up to a mountaintop, where He is transfigured and revealed as God’s Beloved Son. Knowing He will soon face suffering and death, Jesus does not resist. Like a lamb led to the slaughter, Jesus lays down His life for us, and God the Father willingly sacrifices His Son for our salvation.

So, too, our love must imitate the love of God; never grasping or self-serving, but generous and self-giving. It takes a lot of faith to let go of someone you love, trusting that God’s love for that person is greater than your own, but if you can do it, God will shower down blessings on you and all those you love as well.

 Link to the Complete Text of Readings for Sunday, Feb. 25th, 2018