Scott Hahn [Inconnu(e)] - Lenten Reflections From a Father Who Keeps His Promises

L ENTEN R EFLECTIONS F ROM

A F ATHER W HO K EEPS

H IS P ROMISES

Scott Hahn

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture passages have been taken from the Revised Standard Version , Catholic edition. Copyright 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture texts marked NAB are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Quotes are taken from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America (indicated as CCC ), 2nd ed. Copyright 1997 by United States Catholic ConferenceLibreria Editrice Vaticana.

Daily reflections excerpted from A Father Who Keeps His Promises: Gods Covenant Love in Scripture by Scott Hahn, 1998 Scott Hahn, Ph.D. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Cover design by Candle Light Studios

Cover image: Christs Charge to Peter, c.1616 (oil on oak panel) by Rubens, Peter Paul (1577-1640); 139.2x114.8 cm;

Wallace Collection, London, UK | bridgemanart.com

Book design by Mark Sullivan

PRINT ISBN 978-1-61636-497-7

E-BOOK ISBN 978-1-61636-565-3

Copyright 2012 Scott Hahn, Ph.D. All rights reserved.

Published by Servant Books, an imprint of Franciscan Media.

28 W. Liberty St.

Cincinnati, OH 45202

Contents

I NTRODUCTION

L ENT B EGINS: G ODS M ASTER P LAN

Ash Wednesday: Gods Unfailing Love Thursday After Ash Wednesday: Divine Discipline
Friday After Ash Wednesday: Temporal LossEternal Gain
Saturday After Ash Wednesday: Contracts and Covenants

W EEK O NE: C REATION S TORY

Sunday | Week One: From Chaos to Cosmos

Monday | Week One: The Sacredness of Human Life

Tuesday | Week One: Made in the Image of God

Wednesday | Week One: Remember to Rest

Thursday | Week One: Jesus, the New Adam

Friday | Week One: Paradise Lost

Saturday | Week One: Slaves or Sons?

W EEK T WO: T HE O BEDIENCE OF N OAH AND A BRAHAM

Sunday | Week Two: Broken Hearts, Broken Homes

Monday | Week Two: The Destructive Power of Envy

Tuesday | Week Two: A Covenant Renewed

Wednesday | Week Two: The Obedience of Faith

Thursday | Week Two: Three Incredible Promises

Friday | Week Two: Laugh at the Impossible

Saturday | Week Two: God Will Provide

W EEK T HREE: T HE E XODUS [43]

Sunday | Week Three: Gods Power, Not Ours

Monday | Week Three: No Obstacles for God

Tuesday | Week Three: Forgiveness Reunites

Wednesday | Week Three: God Uses Adversity

Thursday | Week Three: Gods Plan for Moses

Friday | Week Three: An Unlikely Hero

Saturday | Week Three: True Liberation

W EEK F OUR: I SRAEL IN THE W ILDERNESS

Sunday | Week Four: A New Identity

Monday | Week Four: A Privilege and a Responsibility

Tuesday | Week Four: The Great Physician

Wednesday | Week Four: Rules and Rebellion

Thursday | Week Four: The New Moses

Friday | Week Four: From Faithfulness to Forgetfulness

Saturday | Week Four: Total Rest

W EEK F IVE: F ROM K INGDOM TO E XILE

Sunday | Week Five: Humble Means

Monday | Week Five: Son of Promise

Tuesday | Week Five: A Servants Heart

Wednesday | Week Five: A Rich Treasury

Thursday | Week Five: Gods Broken Heart

Friday | Week Five: A Wise Mans Fall From Grace

Saturday | Week Five: A Profound Conversion

H OLY W EEK: I T I S F INISHED [91]

Palm Sunday: What Is Finished? [93]

Monday | Holy Week: Jesus, Our Passover Lamb

Tuesday | Holy Week: The Cup of Blessing

Wednesday | Holy Week: The Paschal Mystery Fulfilled

Holy Thursday | The Bread of Life

Good Friday | A Once-for-All, Never-Ending Sacrifice
Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil) | The Gospel of the New Covenant

E ASTER W EEK: H ERE C OMES THE B RIDE

Easter Sunday | The Liturgy of Creation

Easter Monday | Faith in Invisible Realities

Tuesday | Easter Week: With Our Whole Being

Wednesday | Easter Week: A Lamb Who Was SlainA Lion Who Reigns

Thursday | Easter Week: The Beautiful Bride of Christ

Friday | Easter Week: Union With God

Saturday | Easter Week: The Dwelling of God

Divine Mercy Sunday | Becoming Saints

Introduction

I cant think of anything more worth sharing during Lent than the biblical story of Gods covenant love in salvation history. Each day, beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending with Divine Mercy Sunday, this book provides a different reflection for each day, providing as a whole a simple retelling of the stories that make up the Story.

For the most part, I stick to the major characters and events, since these stories make up the Bibles main plot. My primary goal is to provide the big picture, which has been lost to many readers of Scripture in our day. In the process, I also hope to show how much practical wisdom the Bible contains for the ordinary believer, especially rank and file Catholics. This is one of the reasons I emphasize the twin themes of covenant and family, because they touch us right where we live. The other reason for focusing on these closely related themes is that the Bible itself does.

Lent bids us to return to the innocence of baptism. As Noah and his family were saved through the waters of the deluge, we were saved through the waters of baptism. Gods covenant with Noah marked the start of a new world, but it also prefigured a new and greater covenant between God and his creation.

Jesus is portrayed as the new Adamthe beloved son of God, living in harmony with the wild beasts, and being served by angels. Like Adam, he too is tempted by the devil. But while Adam fell, giving reign to sin and death, Jesus is victorious. This is the good news, the gospel of God that Christ proclaims. Through his death, resurrection, and enthronement at the right hand of the Father, the world is once again made Gods kingdom.

In the waters of baptism, each of us entered the kingdom of Gods beloved Son. We were made children of God, new creations. But like Jesus, and Israel before him, we have passed through the baptismal waters only to be driven into the wildernessa world filled with afflictions and tests of our faithfulness. We are led on this journey by Jesus, our Savior; he feeds us with the bread of angels and cleanses our consciences in the sacrament of reconciliation.

So, as you begin your Lenten journey, prepare to reflect on the greatest story of all and the Father who keeps his promises.

Lent Begins

| GODS MASTER PLAN |

Scripture testifies to how God has cared for his family throughout the ages, making a way for his children to live with him forever. The biblical record shows that our heavenly Father has kept each and every one of his promises he swore concerning our redemption at the cost of his only beloved Son. Because of Gods grace, the gift of salvation is free, but it is not cheap.

Well look at the story of that unfailing love this Lenten season. Well examine together what God has done in history to make us his family and to save us from the wretched misery of our own sin and selfishness. Well discover anew how passionately he seeks us, how firm is his intention to make us whole again, and how deserving he is to receive our gratitude, trust, and obedience.

This Lent, my hope is that you will catch a new vision of the eternal Father who never fails to fulfill his word. No matter what obstacles arise, he never loses sight of his goal: to form and fashion a human family to share in the infinite love of the Trinity. As you consider how God has fathered his people over the ages, hopefully you will realize more fully how great Gods love is for you as a member of his covenant family.

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