LISTEN, you will be a blessing!

We are in the second sunday of lent. The readings of today invite us to focus on listening to the Lord. In the first reading we have the call of Abraham, who just leaves everything at the call of Yahweh and proceeds to the land that He shows. As a reward to his obedience Yahweh promises him five blessings: I will MAKE OF YOU A GREAT NATION, and I WILL BLESS YOU, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I WILL BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS YOU, AND HIM WHO CURSES YOU I WILL CURSE; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves (Gen 12:3-4). Just for the sake of getting a divine blessing, Abraham leaves his father’s house. Today, how many of us would dare to do that? In this consumerist world, material promise is revered more that obtaining a divine blessing. The lack of vocation to priesthood itself serves as a clear proof for this attitude. Gone of the days when having a priest in a family was considered as a blessing. Now, having a luxury car, living in a well-furnished house and going for a weekend celebration are considered as a blessing. It is not a change of blessing, rather a change in understanding of blessing.

Owning material things are not a blessing, they would perish one day. We have no certainty of their timeline. At any time they may give trouble and we have to dispose them. Blessing is a happiness and blessedness which God gives to our soul. When a material thing is damaged, we can repair it or buy an alternate one. Similarly, if our souls are damaged, they can be repaired but can’t be replaced. Our souls get repaired when we are not in harmony with the other, with the nature and eventually with the creator: God. Repair in our soul is the sin. The repairing work of the soul can be done only by God and the soul concerned.

The process of repairing begins from the moment the soul concerned (oneself) surrenders to the Lord with all his/her weaknesses. God knows that we are weak and often fall and sin. That’s why He sent His Son Jesus to redeem us. God through His Son Jesus is ever ready to repair our souls. He is there to lift us up from sin. Are we ready to confess our sins and get His blessing? Do we realize that we are weak and have fallen? Of course, it is not simple and easy to accept one’s sin thought it was very easy to commit sin. It demands complete surrender and lot of sacrifice. It requires openness. We need to listen to our inner soul and to the voice of God that speaks to us in our conscience. In the transfiguration of the Lord, (today’s gospel) a voice from the cloud said, ‘listen to Him’ (Mt 17:5). Abraham listened, he received blessing and also became a blessing.  Do you need a blessing? then LISTEN TO HIM. Who knows the Lord may even MAKE YOU A BLESSING.