2nd Sunday of Lent
Gen 15:5-12,17-18
Phi 3:17-4:1
Lk 9:28-36
“Look towards heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.”
The stars have always held a fascination for us humans. Explorers use them to navigate through treacherous seas, set the direction for their destinations; and some even believe that the stars are able to grant wishes, should they spot the first star that night.
In the scriptures, there are also many occasions that stars are mentioned, and a lot of the time it is to show God’s guidance. And of course, we all know the story of the Epiphany, where the Star of Bethlehem led the Magi to the child Jesus. But I have always been struck by the story of God promising Abraham that his descendants will equal the number the stars in the sky, even though both his wife and he were of advanced age.
I always imagined that God brought Abraham out on a clear night where there was a field of stars, too many to count. However, my previous parish priest mentioned in one of our classes, that God could have led Abraham out in the day! And so, it was a promise to Abraham and also a call for Abraham to trust that God will indeed provide even though Abraham was not able to see any stars in the day.
Do I have that much trust and faith in the Lord? I keep telling my wife to trust in God’s mercy, that He will never fail us; that He will always hold us in His hands and not abandon us. He has shown us, on countless occasions, that He is indeed faithful and He always walks with us. However, I cannot honestly say that I fully trust in Him. Could it be due to my sceptical nature? Or that my faith is lacking? It is very likely, both.
I don’t give my trust to people easily and this stems from my childhood when my mum told me to “trust no one”, due to my father leaving my family in dubious circumstances. And so, this translated to not trusting in people, as well as not fully trusting in God the Father. I know that the first step in developing our faith is to build a relationship with God. If I cannot trust, how can my faith grow? God has always shown himself to be a loving Father and has blessed me greatly throughout my life, so why can’t I fully trust Him?
I know that I am still a work in progress, and I pray that in this season of Lent, I will spend more time with the Lord to increase the depth of my relationship with Him. To trust more fully and know that I am safe in the palm of His hand. That He will walk with me in good times or in bad and that whatever happens in my life, I know that I am loved — and that love is unconditional.
Just as the stars guide explorers, we should follow the ONE true star — and that is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. By following Him, we will find our way to safety and we will have a companion that will guide our every step towards our heavenly home with God the Father.
Jesus Christ – the ultimate Superstar!
(Today’s OXYGEN by Calvin Wee)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are the answer to all our worries. Grant us the grace to trust you fully and that we will be able to grow in faith and so live our lives with joy that only You can give. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Loving Father, thank you for giving us opportunities where we can trust in You more fully. We ask our Blessed Lady to intercede for us that we may have more trust in You, as she did, especially during those times that we cannot see an end in sight. Amen.
OXYGEN 
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