Sunday, February 28th 2021 | By Rev. Michael P. Hanifin
We are already into the 2
nd
Sunday of Lent. This is also the final day of February 2021. Tomorrow is March 1
st
and we have completed 59 days in 2021. This weekend’s readings are a powerful testimony to God’s profound love for each one of us. It is a reminder for us, as Catholic Christians, to surrender all that we have to God who is a Gracious Giver.
The First Reading from the book of Genesis is the infamous story of God putting Abraham to the test. God commands Abraham to offer his son, Isaac, to the Lord as a sacrifice. Quite possibly God believed that Abraham made his son Isaac a higher priority than his faithfulness to God. In the end and with much trial, Abraham obeyed the Lord. An angel or messenger of the Lord cried out at the last moment to stop Abraham. Because of his faithfulness and obedient surrender to the Lord, he was abundantly blessed.
We can only imagine how Abraham felt, offering the life of his son, not understanding why, but blindly obeying. Yet, Abraham’s response of total surrender to God’s plan is a testament to trust in God’s deep love for us. As modern-day Christians, we are called to surrender all to the Lord — our time, our talents and even our material possessions. We are tenderly invited to give to God our entire lives with the confidence that He will not abandon us and will eternally take care of us.
Saint Paul echoed this message so beautifully in our Second Reading from the letter to the Romans. Paul said, “He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him?” God loves us so much that He gave us His only Son who suffered, died and rose for us. He has given us His very best. Can we not entrust our entire lives to Him knowing He will continue to pour out His love on us?
This weekend we have the 2021 Pastoral Service Appeal (PSA) Kick Off Weekend. Robert Ward in English and Martin Concha in Spanish will give testimonies on how their preparation to be Deacons in the Church is funded through the PSA. PSA funds raised are used solely for the ministries and services outlined in the PSA brochure. For more information about the PSA or to make a gift, please visit
. You can also donate by texting “PSA” to 714-622-7877. Brochures and envelopes in English and Spanish are available in our parish office and in the courtyard after this weekend’s Masses. Please prayerfully consider making a gift to the 2021 Pastoral Services Appeal.
As we all continue our journey through Lent, let us reflect on God’s profound love for us and how we might give back of the blessings we have received. As Mother Saint Teresa of Calcutta once said, “It is not how much we give that matters but how much love we put into giving.”