I was listening to Bishop Barron’s homily yesterday and he was focused in on the first reading about Abraham and Isaac.
The story of Abraham taking Isaac up the mountain to sacrifice him because God told him to is, perhaps, one of the most challenging passages in the Bible to read.
Bishop Barron said it gets to a fundamental question: Do you love the blessings from God? Or…do you really love God for His sake?
If the blessings from God aren’t flowing like you expect, do you struggle to love God?
Boy, these questions cut like a knife, don’t they?
I know for myself, when I was younger, I thought Christianity was a cover, a protection against bad things happening. I loved the blessings, but I didn’t necessarily love God for His sake, because as soon as I perceived that the blessings had dried up, I bailed.
We can extrapolate this into marriage, as well. Often times, people love their spouse as long as they are doing all the right things, saying all the right things, making us feel good. They love the way their spouse makes them feel; they love the blessings. But, if they go through a tough period and the “blessings” aren’t flowing as before, do they still love their spouse? Or was the love contingent on how their spouse was making them feel?
I’m reading through Job this Lent and Bishop Barron talked about how Job, even when stripped of all his blessings, still remains faithful to God and loves Him through the hard times. He complains, for sure, but he doesn’t bail.
Bishop Barron’s questions are very important questions to ask ourselves, Catholic Pilgrims, especially in this season of Lent.
Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Monday.
