Today is Monday the 19 February, in the Season of Lent
Centering Prayer: A Prayer by St. Anselm of Canterbury
Teach me to seek you, and reveal yourself to me as I seek; for unless you instruct me I cannot seek you, and unless you reveal yourself I cannot find you. Let me seek you in desiring you; let me desire you in seeking you. Let me find you in loving you; let me love you in finding you.
Scripture: Today’s reading is from Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 (NRSV)
17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.
17:2 And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.”
17:3 Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him,
17:4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations.
17:5 No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations.
17:6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.
17:7 I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
17:15 God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
17:16 I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”
Reflection: God makes numerous one-sided declarations, or promises/covenants, to Abraham in this passage of scripture. Abraham will not live to see the promises God makes to him realized. He will not see his future grandchildren become kings and queens. He will not live to see the multitude of nations that will claim him as their ancestor. And yet, Abraham believes the promises will come true because he believes the Promiser, Abraham was fully convinced that God was able to do what he promised.
God foresees greater things for us and our descendants than what we can foresee and promises to show loving kindness to the thousandth generation (Exodus 20:6) when we entrust our lives to him through Jesus Christ.
Questions for Reflection:
- Which promises of God are you holding on to?
- Even though your name may not have changed like Abraham’s or Sarah’s (verses 5 and 15), how has your purpose in life changed because of your faith?
Prayer Focus: For the return of the descendants of Christian parents that have left the Christian faith and the church.
Concluding Prayer:
Anima Christi
Jesus, may all that is you flow into me. May your body and blood be my food and drink. May your passion and death be my strength and life. Jesus, with you by my side, enough has been given. May the shelter I seek be the shadow of your cross. Let me not run from the love which you offer, But hold me safe from the forces of evil. On each of my dyings shed your light and your love. Keep calling to me until that day comes, when with your saints, I may praise you forever. Amen.
The Path - El Camino 