Today
we have the iconic and classic story of the astounding obedience,
trust and indeed FAITH of Abraham who was willing even to sacrifice and
holocaust his own beloved son, Isaac, the joy of his old age – at the bidding
of God. This scenario was of course nothing but the elaborate setting for the
testing of Abraham’s faith – and Abraham passed the test with flying colors.
An angel stayed his hand when
he was about to obediently strike his son dead. And as a result, the LORD GOD,
swore by himself and told Abraham who did not withhold his son that he would be
blessed abundantly and that his “descendants would be as countless as the stars
of the sky and the sands of the seashore” – his descendants would take
possession of the gates of their enemies, and in his descendants all the
nations of the earth would find blessings – all because you obeyed by command.
This is all that God wants of
us: to obey his commands – simple or complex, when we understand them and when
we don’t, when they are easy and when they are difficult. God can promise
eternal love, protection and strength – but he needs our TRUST, our ATTENTION,
and our FAITH in HIM in order for us to benefit from what he has to offer!
In the gospel passage we see
how easy it is for God, through Jesus, to bestow abundant blessings and wonders
and signs – and in this case Jesus combines a healing with the fact that he has
power to forgive sin as well – being God as he is. This is the same Jesus who
wants to work great signs and wonders in our lives as well – and to forgive our
sins – if we approach him with faith, trust him, and ask him.
We approach now, O Lord, we
have faith, we trust and we ask! Bless us!
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