Thursday of the 5th week of Lent
First reading Genesis 17:3-9
On this Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent, the reading from Genesis 17:3–9 draws us into the profound mystery of God’s covenantal love which is a love that initiates, sustains, and transforms. As Abram falls face down before the Lord, we too are invited to a posture of surrender, recognizing that it is not we who first reach for God, but God who stoops to bind Himself to us in mercy. Lent is a season of rediscovering this truth: that our faith is not primarily about what we do for God, but about what God desires to do in us through His covenant in Jesus Christ. In Genesis, God promises to make Abram the father of many nations, establishing an everlasting bond that shapes not just his destiny, but the destiny of generations. In Christ, this promise is extended to all humanity; the covenant is sealed not with a name change, but with the shedding of His own blood. Believing in Lent means trusting that God is at work in us even when we feel barren, broken, or unworthy. It means allowing the promise of His covenant which is being His people and He our God, to take root deeply in our hearts. Let’s reflect: Lent is living the covenantal love of God realized in me through Jesus Christ.
Don Giorgio