We are children of the Promise – a Covenantal People whom God loves and has redeemed . We are not children of slaves. This is stated beautifully in the Exsultet of Easter Vigil: “to redeem a slave, You delivered up Your Son.” This God who gives not only one second chance to sinners, but also a God of multiple chances if we only return in sincere, humble repentance each time to Him.

In the face of such immense love of God, I ought to return love for Love. But the lure of temptation and the seduction of sin oftentimes beguiled my wayward heart. My faith wavers and I ask for a sign – just like my ancestors in faith – the Israelites of old who asked for signs after signs in the face of God’s unwavering and faithful trust. The question by a loving God, “Do you trust Me?” still echoes from the time of Abraham to the present day.

St Thomas Aquinas reminds us: “To the one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible!” Jesus died a death that I could not die and paid a price that I could not pay – Jesus paid the ransom price for my soul! Have I taken Jesus and all His Christ-Event of Life, Passion, Death and Resurrection for granted? Have I been a nominal Christian instead of an authentic disciple of Christ?