Thursday of Week 13 – Gen 22:1-19; Matthew 9:1-8

An hourglass

God has lots of sand

We hear, today, in the first reading from Genesis the words of God directed to Abraham:

Take your son, your only child Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him as a burnt offering, on a mountain I will point out to you.

God had promised Abraham that his descendants will be like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. Abraham had waited many years and finally had one, his only son with Sarah: Isaac. And now, putting him to the test, God commanded him to kill him as an offering. Abraham trusted and passed the test, and God rescinded His order . . . Only one thing remains unsettling: where are the countless descendants? In the end isn’t there only this one?

God’s in no hurry. Until Abraham’s grandson had twelve sons. Then the family quickly grew into a tribe. And then into a nation. But the fact remains that Abraham during his earthly life didn’t see all this . . .

Am I counting the story of my life coming to a happy end? Not necessarily. It may be that not until in eternity will I be able to see the fruit of the good which I sowed on earth. In this life it may not only be the fruit I don’t see but not even buds . . .

God’s in no hurry.

God, while I wait, give me encouragement so that I will not doubt . . .