Exploring Genesis
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THE BIBLE: EXPLORING GENESIS ICON. |
Abraham
When God call Abraham, he goes forth
as the Lord had told him. His heart is entirely submissive to the Word
and so he obeys. Such attentiveness of the heart, whose decisions are
made according to God’s will, is essential to prayer; while the words used count
only in relation to it. Abraham’s prayer is expressed first by deeds: a
man of silence, he constructs an altar to the Lord at each stage of his
journey. Only later does Abraham’s first prayer in words appear: a veiled
complaint reminding God of his promises, which seem unfulfilled.
One aspect of the drama of prayer
appears from the beginning: the test of faith in the fidelity of God. Later in
Genesis, because of Abraham’s belief in God and his walk in his presence and in
the covenant with him, he is ready to welcome a mysterious Guest into his tent.
Abraham’s remarkable hospitality at Mamre foreshadows the annunciation of the
true Son of the promise. After, that, once God had confided his plan,
Abraham’s heart is attuned to his Lord’ compassion for humanity and he dares to
intercede for them with bold confidence.
So, what about us? Are our
hearts filled with the Lord’s compassion sufficiently to intercede with bold
confidence like Abraham? What about our prayer life? How has it grown
over the years- over the last twelve months. Why not be committed to
prayer by ‘building an altar to the Lord’, be more submissive to the Word and
by the penance (deeds) we choose show that we belong to the Lord. It is a
challenge. Let us enter into the drama of prayer head on this week.
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