Dear Friends,

As I reflected on the readings for this second Sunday of Lent, the theme of this article, inspired by my American Mom, came to my mind. She often told me, “Fr. Robert, you’ve got to give to get.” It made me wonder further how you would feel if an authority you deeply respect asked you to give up something you value above all else? Would you? You would likely find yourself torn between loyalty to that authority and love for what you hold dear. Would you be ready to let go of something precious to secure a relationship?

Abraham found himself in exactly this same situation. After waiting twenty-five years for the fulfillment of God’s promise, Isaac finally arrived. Then, the unthinkable happened: God commanded Abraham to offer his son as a sacrifice.

From a human perspective, this makes little sense. But in divine dynamics, the operational principle is different: you lose to gain, and in giving, you receive. God acknowledged the weight of this request, calling Isaac "your only one... whom you love." Yet Abraham did not question Him. He understood a fundamental truth: God will never take you to a place where His grace is not sufficient for you.

Notice, God did not ask Abraham to do something He was unwilling to do Himself. In the person and mission of Jesus Christ—the only begotten Son—God gave up what was most precious to Him for our sake. On the cross, Jesus accepted the role of the ultimate sacrifice for our atonement. The cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" echoes the potential cry of Isaac on Mount Moriah, but fulfilled in Christ for our salvation.

We all have "Isaacs" in our lives. They come in various shapes and sizes—people, habits, comforts, or places that make our world go round. While these things may be helpful, there is a hard truth we must face: anything you value more than God is not good for you; it can even ruin you.

Lent is the season to give up the "Isaacs" competing with our spiritual growth. Nothing in our lives will change until we decide to change. As we continue our Lenten journey, let us concentrate on the areas of our lives distorted by sinful habits. By willfully offering them to the Lord, we open ourselves to a transfiguration encounter that allows us to experience Jesus in a new way. Like Peter, may we desire to stay in His radiance and pitch our tents with the Lord forever.

In two days, we shall offer you an opportunity to reflect on how to better prepare for our Lenten experience through our Lenten Mission, which is tailored for all categories of our parish community, from children to adults. This mission will be on the evening of this coming Tue, Mar 3 from 6:00-8:00pm. During this time, there will also be an opportunity to go to confession. Please mark your calendar for this very inspiring evening of reflection and worship.

Wishing you a fruitful Lenten Season.

I love you!

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