2025/03/16 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Second Sunday of Lent
- Marta Stepniak, Dir. of Evangelization, Children’s & Leader Formation
Lent: A Journey of Hope
Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 | Philippians 3:17—4:1
Lent is often described as a journey—a time of reflection, repentance, and renewal. But at its heart, Lent is a journey of hope. A hope that dares to believe in God’s promises, even when we find ourselves in places of waiting, uncertainty, or struggle.
In Genesis 15, we meet Abram in such a place. God calls him to step outside and gaze at the stars, promising descendants as numerous as the sky is vast. Yet Abram is still without a child. There is no earthly reason to believe. And yet, Abram trusts. His faith in God’s promise, despite all appearances, is credited to him as righteousness. This is radical hope: trusting that God’s word is true, even when we cannot yet see its fulfillment.
In a way, Lent places us in Abram’s shoes. We strip away comforts, confront our doubts, and walk through the wilderness of our hearts. It can feel barren, like Abram’s longing. But God invites us to look up—to remember His faithfulness, to believe in His covenant, and to hold fast to the hope that He is at work, even in silence. The covenant with Abram is sealed in mystery, as smoke and fire pass between the offerings. And for us, that covenant finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who walks toward the cross bearing our sins, and who offers us the ultimate hope of resurrection.
St. Paul picks up this same thread of hope in Philippians 3. He reminds us that we are not citizens of this world alone, but of heaven. We can easily lose sight of that, becoming absorbed by earthly concerns and temporary distractions. But Paul calls us to lift our eyes, to remember where we truly belong, and to place our hope in the One who will “change our lowly body to conform with His glorified body.”
Lent is a time to realign our hearts with this truth. Through prayer, fasting, and acts of mercy, we allow God’s grace to reshape us. We walk together as a community, encouraging one another to “stand firm in the Lord,” as we await the joy of Easter. We are not alone on this journey. We are part of something larger—a people of hope, bound together by God’s promise and love.
As we move through this season, we are called to both look back—to remember God’s faithfulness to Abram—and to look forward—to the promise of resurrection and our true home in heaven.
As we journey through Lent, I would like to invite you to pick up this challenge—a simple but meaningful invitation to live as a person of hope. Inspired by the faith of Abram and the encouragement of St. Paul, this challenge calls us to trust in God’s promises, to stand firm in our identity as citizens of heaven, and to be a sign of hope for others.
The Challenge:
For the rest of this Lenten season, commit to three intentional practices that help you grow in hope and prepare your heart for the joy of Easter.
#1. Like Abram, lift your eyes beyond your circumstances and fix them on God’s promises.
Daily Action: Take a few moments each day to "look up"—whether by gazing at the sky, sitting in silence, or praying with Scripture. In those moments, name one promise of God you choose to trust today, even if it’s hard to see how it will be fulfilled.
#2. Like St. Paul, reorient your life toward what lasts forever.
Daily Action: Choose one earthly distraction or habit that takes your focus away from God. Each day, make the conscious decision to let it go. Instead, practice something that strengthens your faith—prayer, acts of service, or reading God’s Word.
#3. Become a living sign of hope to those around you.
Weekly Action: Each week, reach out to someone who needs encouragement. Offer a prayer, a kind word, or a simple act of mercy. Ask God to show you who needs His hope through you.
At the End of Lent...
On Holy Saturday, take time to reflect:
How has your hope deepened through this journey?
Where have you experienced God’s faithfulness?
How are you living more fully as a citizen of heaven?
And step into Easter renewed, transformed, and anchored in the hope of Christ’s resurrection.