Daily Retreat 06/28/07
2007 Jun 28 Thu:Irenaeus, bp, mt M
Gn 16:1-12. 15-16/Ps 105(106):1b-2. 3-4a. 4b-5/Mt 7:21-29
From today’s readings: “Sarai took her maid, Hagar the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his concubine.... Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.... Everyone who listens to these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock....”
Impatience with God
The Lord had promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars, and yet, at eighty-six years of age, he and Sarah still had no children. Then the two of them started to think that more initiative was required on their part, and so the awkward arrangement was drawn up of having Hagar, Sarah’s maid, step in as Abraham’s concubine.
Even assuming that this plan was hatched with the best of intentions on Abraham’s, Sarah’s, and Hagar’s part, it’s certainly easy to understand why things soon soured between Sarah and Hagar. As the book of Genesis makes clear, the liaison between Abraham and Hagar was not the least bit necessary for the fulfillment of God’s promise. But, on the other hand, neither did God allow that complication to derail His promise....
All of us are recipients of God’s promises, although, of course, the promises that God has made for us have been through His Son and His Church, and thus were not like the exclusive promises which God made with Abraham. And yet, it’s easy for us also to become impatient in waiting for God to fulfill His promises, and like Abraham and Sarah, we can be tempted to take matters into our own hands....
Clearly, God expects each of us to cooperate and do our part in bringing His promises to fruition, and yet He would never have any of us do something wrong in order to “hurry along” His plans. So, when you or I ever feel impatient with God, it’s essential to look out for sinister temptations because, even starting with the best of intentions, if we fall for such temptations, they will only end up complicating our lives. It’s much better to re-dedicate ourselves to following God’s plan, as well as His timetable!
Gn 16:1-12. 15-16/Ps 105(106):1b-2. 3-4a. 4b-5/Mt 7:21-29
From today’s readings: “Sarai took her maid, Hagar the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his concubine.... Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.... Everyone who listens to these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock....”
Impatience with God
The Lord had promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars, and yet, at eighty-six years of age, he and Sarah still had no children. Then the two of them started to think that more initiative was required on their part, and so the awkward arrangement was drawn up of having Hagar, Sarah’s maid, step in as Abraham’s concubine.
Even assuming that this plan was hatched with the best of intentions on Abraham’s, Sarah’s, and Hagar’s part, it’s certainly easy to understand why things soon soured between Sarah and Hagar. As the book of Genesis makes clear, the liaison between Abraham and Hagar was not the least bit necessary for the fulfillment of God’s promise. But, on the other hand, neither did God allow that complication to derail His promise....
All of us are recipients of God’s promises, although, of course, the promises that God has made for us have been through His Son and His Church, and thus were not like the exclusive promises which God made with Abraham. And yet, it’s easy for us also to become impatient in waiting for God to fulfill His promises, and like Abraham and Sarah, we can be tempted to take matters into our own hands....
Clearly, God expects each of us to cooperate and do our part in bringing His promises to fruition, and yet He would never have any of us do something wrong in order to “hurry along” His plans. So, when you or I ever feel impatient with God, it’s essential to look out for sinister temptations because, even starting with the best of intentions, if we fall for such temptations, they will only end up complicating our lives. It’s much better to re-dedicate ourselves to following God’s plan, as well as His timetable!
posted by FrPitstick | 6/28/2007
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