The Calling

Entering the second week of the Lenten Season, based on the readings, the Catholic Church reminded us the baptismal promise that opened the door to our sacramental journey for the glory of God and the sanctification of our souls.

On the first reading, it reminds us the calling of Abraham, and the reshaping of his future, his future mission and participation in the God's plan of salvation. And in fact, the Lord made a covenant with Abraham, that he will be called as the father of all nations and his children and ancestors will be blessed. But it requires his full submission and hsi fiat to the Father.

Today's second reading, in the bookd of Timothy, God is reminding us that He called us to become holy. And it also reminding us that we received our life's immortality if we actively participate in the Gospel.

We have learned in our catechism classes way back from our elementary years that our sacramental journey begun when we received the Sacrament of Confirmation, that which we were having been perfectly bounded to the Church and enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit, as true witnesses, as we became more strictly obligated to spread and defend the Catholic faith by our words and deeds. And in fact it was strongly emphasized that we should suffer for the Gospel, as we are called to share in the sufferings of the Body of Christ, which is the Church.

In our sufferings, we are called to rely on the power of God. When St. Paul appealed to God about his suffering, the Lord answered: MY grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2Cor 12:9 Following the footsteps of St. Paul we could say: So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therfore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor. 12:9-10 In other words, through physical sufferings, we are spiritually strengthened in our daily communion with Christ.

God's calling for us to be holy is not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace. Sometimes, it will give us confusion and misleading point of view, which pushed us that salvation is not intertwined with good works, only by God's grace and faith. St. Paul's emphasis is that by God's grace we all be saved not in good works because, so that no one may boast to what he has done to the least of his brothers.

AS a member of the Singles for Christ and as being a herald of the Gospel of truth, today's three readings remind us that the Heavenly Father sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, so we may be saved through the grace and mercy of a loving God who never abandoned us to sin and death.

Instituted by Christ Himself, the Holy Catholic Church commands us to prepare ourselves for the great feast of Easter that approaches. So we may be holy on that day as Jesus is holy, we are called to repent of our sins and receive the Sacrament of Confession. Then, having been made righteous in Christ, the Lord God will no longer rmember our sins.