In the first reading from Genesis and in the Responsorial Psalm, we hear a very powerful message regarding our identity: We belong to God. We are his chosen ones!

In Genesis God made a covenant with Abraham whereby God said he would be the God of Abraham and of all his descendants throughout the ages.  In other words, God promises never to abandon us.  He is our Father, and each of us is a child of God. 
As a child of God, how do we define ourselves?  Do we allow status, power, honor, position, material goods, intellect, abilities, etc., to define us and others?  Or do we define ourselves and others as belonging to God?  When we live as a child of God, we no longer rely on worldly labels for our identity because we allow God to define us.  When we allow God to define us, as His chosen ones, we actually have a personal relationship with Him. 

Lent is a Liturgical season during which we can make a special effort to devote time to improving our personal relationship with God.  When we focus on God, we cannot glorify ourselves; instead, we see ways to serve Him. During Lent we consider ways to use our individual gifts to glorify and serve Him.  The Lenten season encourages us to reflect on times when we did not acknowledge ourselves or others as children of God. Lent is a time to forgive and to obtain forgiveness. God so greatly wants a relationship with us. We are His chosen ones, have we chosen Him?  

Dear God,
Help me realize the great inheritance of being your child.  Guide me to live as your child- as your chosen one. Help me resist identifying myself by status, power and material things.  Let me focus on you and help me find ways I can serve you. Through Christ’s name, I pray. Amen