Jun 30: Abraham, Our Father in Faith

Andrea del Sarto: The Sacrifice of Isaac
Gemäldegalerie, Dresden, 1520-25

Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading I: Gen 22:1b-19

The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice (NRSV, Gen 22: 15-18).”

At every moment, Lord, you meet us through your “angel,” the Word now made flesh, and challenge us to let go of everything we are and have become up until the present that we may continue to grow in your life and become truly something new. May we follow the example of Abraham, our father in faith, and place our confidence not in ourselves but solely in you who are our only hope and true future.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.