Daily Retreat 07/05/07
2007 Jul 5 Thu/ Anthony Mary Zaccaria, p, rf
Gn 22:1b-19/ Ps 114(115):1-2. 3-4. 5-6. 8-9/ Mt 9:1-8
From today’s readings:“God put Abraham to the test.... I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.... But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....”
Abraham’s Test
Of the twelve chapters of Genesis which recount the life of Abraham, today’s verses from chapter 22 are the most poignant and most memorable, when God put Abraham to the test, and called upon him to sacrifice his son Isaac, for whom he had waited so many years.
At first glance, the incident gives rise to a legitimate objection to God’s way of doing things: how can He, the God who is all good, ask Abraham for human sacrifice? According to other scripture passages, such a custom is abominable to God (e.g., Deut. 12:31, Psalm 105:37-40). Even with the realization that God, who knows all things, already knew how Isaac’s sacrifice would be averted, it still seems God’s command has inexcusably inflicted Abraham with great mental anguish.
And yet, to be the stalwart father in faith, Abraham needed to prove to himself and to his descendants that God ALWAYS comes first, no matter what. Moreover, the test and lesson for Abraham is just a variation of the teaching of Jesus (cf. Matt. 10:37ff, the gospel of last Sunday), “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” And, far from condoning child sacrifice, the incident conclusively illustrates that God does not want that - indeed, the gripping pathos of this chapter made that message clear enough to even the most primitive peoples. And finally, God knew that Abraham’s example would help his descendants one day understand the significance of His own Son’s sacrifice....
Gn 22:1b-19/ Ps 114(115):1-2. 3-4. 5-6. 8-9/ Mt 9:1-8
From today’s readings:“God put Abraham to the test.... I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.... But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....”
Abraham’s Test
Of the twelve chapters of Genesis which recount the life of Abraham, today’s verses from chapter 22 are the most poignant and most memorable, when God put Abraham to the test, and called upon him to sacrifice his son Isaac, for whom he had waited so many years.
At first glance, the incident gives rise to a legitimate objection to God’s way of doing things: how can He, the God who is all good, ask Abraham for human sacrifice? According to other scripture passages, such a custom is abominable to God (e.g., Deut. 12:31, Psalm 105:37-40). Even with the realization that God, who knows all things, already knew how Isaac’s sacrifice would be averted, it still seems God’s command has inexcusably inflicted Abraham with great mental anguish.
And yet, to be the stalwart father in faith, Abraham needed to prove to himself and to his descendants that God ALWAYS comes first, no matter what. Moreover, the test and lesson for Abraham is just a variation of the teaching of Jesus (cf. Matt. 10:37ff, the gospel of last Sunday), “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” And, far from condoning child sacrifice, the incident conclusively illustrates that God does not want that - indeed, the gripping pathos of this chapter made that message clear enough to even the most primitive peoples. And finally, God knew that Abraham’s example would help his descendants one day understand the significance of His own Son’s sacrifice....
posted by FrPitstick | 7/03/2007
<< Home