Daily Retreat 06/25/07
2007 Jun 25 Mon
Gn 12:1-9/Ps 32(33):12-13. 18-19. 20 and 22/Mt 7:1-5
From today's readings: "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.... Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be His own.... Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother's eye."
Abraham, Our Father in Faith
What is the book of Genesis all about? While many people primarily associate it with "creation," in fact, only the first two chapters of Genesis (a book with fifty chapters!) directly recount the initial creation of the world. But the word "Genesis" actually means "family history," because the whole book of Genesis is indeed all about our earliest family members.
Of course, we're all very familiar with Adam and Eve, and Noah and the Ark, yet many Christians are only vaguely aware of the narratives and importance of the two people featured most in Genesis: Abraham and Joseph, each of whom can claim about twelve chapters of coverage in the first book of the Bible (Abraham: chapters 12-24; Joseph chapters 37-50, except 38 and 49).
The first reading thus begins with Abraham's divine election - on His own initiative, God chooses Abraham (whose name was originally "Abram" - cf. 17:4-5) as the founding patriarch of the Chosen People, with God promising him: "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you."
Over the next two weeks, the first reading will highlight the greatest events in the life of Abraham, our father in faith. Note, however, that the narrative will be interrupted by special readings for John the Baptist's birthday (June 24) and the solemnity of Peter and Paul (June 29). So open your Bible and follow along starting in the twelfth chapter for this essential piece of our family history....
Gn 12:1-9/Ps 32(33):12-13. 18-19. 20 and 22/Mt 7:1-5
From today's readings: "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.... Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be His own.... Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother's eye."
Abraham, Our Father in Faith
What is the book of Genesis all about? While many people primarily associate it with "creation," in fact, only the first two chapters of Genesis (a book with fifty chapters!) directly recount the initial creation of the world. But the word "Genesis" actually means "family history," because the whole book of Genesis is indeed all about our earliest family members.
Of course, we're all very familiar with Adam and Eve, and Noah and the Ark, yet many Christians are only vaguely aware of the narratives and importance of the two people featured most in Genesis: Abraham and Joseph, each of whom can claim about twelve chapters of coverage in the first book of the Bible (Abraham: chapters 12-24; Joseph chapters 37-50, except 38 and 49).
The first reading thus begins with Abraham's divine election - on His own initiative, God chooses Abraham (whose name was originally "Abram" - cf. 17:4-5) as the founding patriarch of the Chosen People, with God promising him: "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you."
Over the next two weeks, the first reading will highlight the greatest events in the life of Abraham, our father in faith. Note, however, that the narrative will be interrupted by special readings for John the Baptist's birthday (June 24) and the solemnity of Peter and Paul (June 29). So open your Bible and follow along starting in the twelfth chapter for this essential piece of our family history....
posted by FrPitstick | 6/24/2007
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