Wednesday 2^nd April – Wednesday of the 4^th week of Lent

Reflection: Isaiah 49: 8-15

I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU

One of the most beautiful things about life is the love that exists between a mother and her child. Indeed its amazing to realize that a child as little as one month old knows its mother’s smell, voice and face. The mother on her part thinks of her child always and is often ready to give anything to ensure the child is healthy and happy. Today, God gives us a very reassuring message: “Even if a mother can forget the baby at the breast, He (God) will never forget us” (Isaiah 49: 15). Hence, the strength of a mother’s love is indeed no match to how much God loves us, His children.

Dear friend, are there times you feel dejected, lonely and unloved? Are there times you have wondered whether God cares about you? Are there times you have been overwhelmed by difficulties that lead you to query the truth of God’s word? There is a reassurance for you today! God loves you more than anyone else ever can – not even your mother or yourself. What is more? While we as imperfect beings can love, but only imperfectly, God’s love is perfect. Our mothers can make a wrong choice or decision for us because of the limits of her human knowledge but God’s choice for us is perfect. He knows the end from the beginning and all things are under His control.

How then, should we respond to the reassurance God gives us today? We must return love for love. If God loves us so much, we must love Him in return and our love for God is proven by our obedience to His commands (John 15: 9-10). Dear friend, let us put our trust in God absolutely. All that He commands us to do is ultimately for our own good. Today, make a commitment to trust and obey God at all times only then would we realize that all that happens to us, He allows specifically because He loves us and is working everything for our good (Romans 8:28).

Prayer: Thank You Father for loving me so much. Please help me to trust and obey You always. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 59 – Why did God make man?

God made everything for man. Man, however, who is “the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake” (GS 24, 3), was created in order to be blessed. This happens when he knows, loves, and serves God and lives in gratitude toward his Creator.

Gratitude is love that has been acknowledged. Someone who is grateful turns freely to the giver of the good and enters into a new, deeper relationship with him. God wishes us to acknowledge his love and even now to live our whole life in relation with him. This relationship lasts forever.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Can a woman forget here sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you” Isaiah 49:15 RSV-CE

Readings for today: Isaiah 49: 8-15; Psalm 145: 8-9, 13-18; John 5: 17-30