God never ceases to chase after us, despite the numerous times we have broken our end of the covenant. We see in the first reading that God promises us everything in His covenant with Abraham, only asking in return that He be our God. He promised Abraham descendants that would number as the stars, when he had an infertile and aged wife. What faith it must have required for Abraham to believe in God's promise! Later, Abraham is asked to sacrifice his only son-the only possible means for his becoming a father of many nations, as God promised. Yet, Abraham's faith never wavered. Despite His inability to comprehend God's will, He nevertheless consented to it, even to the point of sacrificing his own son.
How often does God ask little (or even great) sacrifices of us? Yet, we refuse to let go. What sins are we clinging to as we hesitate to turn our hearts wholly toward God? We may ask God in moments of desperation, "What more do you want from me?" But, in reality it isn't that God wants something more from us that we aren't giving Him. He wants more for us! If we would only trust Him enough! He doesn't offer us a fountain of youth or a life free of suffering, but He does offer us eternal life-the fulfillment of every desire we've ever experienced-a share in the divine life of love with God and the Communion of Saints. Lent is a time to reconsider our priorities and take a close look at what we may be clinging to that is hindering our journeys to sainthood.
I'll leave you with two quotes by C.S. Lewis, Christian all-star:
"It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
Lastly:
"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither."
God wants you to be happy, and the way to everlasting Joy is Jesus, Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, ever drawing us closer to Himself through beauty, truth, and goodness.
