The readings for today concentrate on God’s covenant with His people and the unexpected ways in which God’s message unfolds in our lives.

Genesis 17: 3-9  “…I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you...”
Psalm 105:  “…He has remembered His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations…”

And in the Gospel Jesus refers to Abraham…to let the people know that he was the fulfillment of God’s presence born in time.
John 8: 51-59   “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am…”

But in this Gospel story the people rejected Jesus and picked up stones to throw at Him…The people did not want to hear the message that Jesus was delivering…because the message wasn’t what they wanted or expected.

During our lifetime we can often come upon messages we don’t want to hear…or we don’t expect. 
How do we relate to those messages?  “This can’t be true!  This isn’t what I expected!  I don’t want this sickness!  I don’t want to ….  It’s not what I had planned.” Or…

“Lord, I didn’t expect this…but I’ll try to live with what is happening…and try to find ways to understand what I am to learn…and make the situation better.”

In every situation there is a message for us.  Some messages are wonderful…and we can delight in them.  Some messages are not what we planned or wanted.  But if we listen to what God has to say in all situations and try to learn from them, we may find that God is speaking in ways we don’t understand or expect….  But God is still speaking.

Good and Gracious God, during this penitential season help us remember that You have made a covenant with us and that You are forever faithful…always present…full of surprises…all for our good in Your divine plan.

Help us learn and grow and develop into the people you have given us the potential to be…even in those unexpected situations…and in the situations we don’t want.

You have promised to be with us always …even unto the end of the world.   Help us remember Your covenant and respond to Your presence in our lives.  Amen.