God's Special Challenge to me : What is my Answer?

Gospel Thoughts

*Lenten Season : C Cycle : Second Week: Sunday*

*GOSPEL - Lk 9:28b-36*

*FIRST READING - Gn 15:5-12, 17-18*

*SECOND READING Phil 3:17-4:1 or 3:20-4:1*

*God's Special Challenge to me : What is my Answer?*

*"Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can."*

*1) A Special Challenge to Abraham*

Abraham and Sarah was desiring a child. They also prayed a lot for the same 

But they had no child and they were advanced in the age. 

So the possibility of getting a child was becoming only a dream to Abraham and Sarah. 

In this context God is challenging Abraham, by showing the Sky and asking Him to count the stars 

*2) Impossibility of Counting the Stars*

Now it is not easy to count the stars, because of the enormity involved in it. 

First of all we are not able to imagine the number, size, distance and shape of the stars. And how can we know about it 

So far no one has succeeded in counting the stars and neither in the future anybody will succeed in doing so 

So it is an impossible task for human beings 

*3) The similar Challenge is found to all of us today*

The situation of Abraham comes to all of us in one way or the other 

Abraham faced this challenge in the context of getting a child. For us it may take different forms. In such situations God may ask these similar questions to all of us 

*A) Look at the breath, and count the number of breaths, you have taken so far*

All of us are breathing.

Is it possible to count the number of breaths so far we have taken from the moment we started our life??

*B) Look at your head and count the hair, if you can*

Once again we understand the impossibility of counting the hair in our heads. 

Even though we think that  counting of hair is possible, once you start we know the difficulties or the impossibility involved in it 

*C) Look at your heart and count the liters of blood it has purified so far*

Am I able to count the liters of blood, which the heart has purified so far. Once again we see the impossibility involved here. 

*D) Look at your body and count the red and white blood sells if you can*

All of us have these red and white blood sells. Are we able to count it. Has any one succded in counting it exactly? 

*E) Look at your Tongue and count the taste buds involved in it if you can?*

Are we able to find it its capacity or are we able  to count the taste buds in it? 

*F) Look at your brain, and count the communion it has from the body if you can?*

Brain is connected to the every part of the body, 

But no one can count the connections it has, to the various parts of the body 

*G) Look at your body and count the mysterious aspects involved in body if you can*

Once again no one can count the things involved in the human body, mind and life 

These few things within ourselves show us that there are things which make us impossible to count the things 

*4) Through the Challenge a great message*

Abraham could not count the stars, nor he attempted for it. 

Though this God communicated a powerful message to Abraham and Abraham believed completely in it. 

What was dream it became a reality in Abrahams  life, because of his strong faith 

*Today he is the Father of Faith*

*5) What about my life?* 

Like Abraham we have number of things which are equal to the stars in heaven, possibile to count 

These things are found in our life and with in our body 

To the believer this is more than sufficient to believe and to change ones life 

*Am I ready to believe like Abraham?*

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*