February 25, 2018 Sunday of the 2nd Week in Lent-B

Genesis 2:1-2, 9-13, 15-18

Psalm 116

Romans 8:31-34

Mark 9:2-10

God put Abraham to the test.  Gen 22:1

If God is for us, who can be against us?  Rom 8:31

Lord, life is full of trials and challenges, large and small.  In some we smoothly succeed, others are a struggle, and others can break us.  Abraham was faced with the challenge of a lifetime.  He had a choice.  He could trust that God would provide a way that would preserve the life of his beloved son or he could turn away from God and rely on himself.  I can’t imagine the anguish and internal conflict he felt as he prepared his son for death at his own hand.  His faith and complete reliance on God got him through this trial.  Lord, I feel very small in faith compared to this man.  I can look back on just yesterday when I didn’t trust enough, believe enough and failed in a very minor trial.  I didn’t trust enough in your power and grace and turned to a human response to a relationship conflict.  But I know you won’t give up on me.  It’s clear I can’t be like Abraham without your power and grace.  The results aren’t pretty when I rely only on myself.  Jesus, I trust in you always and everywhere to give me strength.  Amen.