Discernment can seem like a continuous Lent - part 3

I have to admit, the story of Abraham almost sacrificing his son Isaac, which we heard yesterday at Mass for the second Sunday of Lent, is one of my least favorite scripture passages.  I don’t like the idea of God asking Abraham to kill his son.  Historically, we don’t know what really happened, but in the story handed down to us - Abraham at least thought God was asking him to do this.  It certainly would have been common among his Canaanite neighbors.

So what does this have to do with discerning a religious vocation?  It can feel like God is asking us to give up our own Isaac as we ponder religious life.  Have you said to God, “No, I can absolutely not give THAT up!”  It might be the idea of getting married and having children.  It might be the idea of giving up a flourishing career.  It might be the thought of leaving family and friends behind.  One of my Isaac’s was giving up my independence.  You mean I’m supposed to be obedient to someone else?

The point of this story about Abraham is not about God demanding something horrible and totally un-Godlike.   The point is Abraham’s obedience to God.  It is his willingness to return everything God had given him, including his only son.  This is what we are supposed to learn from.

If asked to give up our Isaac for a religious vocation, God will return the hundredfold.   We cannot outdo God in generosity.