God’s Covenant with Abram!

 

12th week Wednesday in ordinary Time

Year One1-12, 17-18

Gen 15:1-18

God’s Covenant with Abram

15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”[a] 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” 4 But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” 5 He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed the Lord; and the Lord[b] reckoned it to him as righteousness.(Gen 15:1-6)

The Lord makes covenant with Abram. He promises that his generations will be as unccountable as stars of the sky and sands on the sea shore. Abram offers a sacrifice to God, which is burnt with fire from above at the sun set and Lord gives the Land to his prosperity. The most precious thing in the olden days is the land; as even today land cost is enormous. The land of Canaan was given to the generations of Israel. The Lord’s covenant is lasting and God is faithful. Today there are so many who take Abraham as Father of Faith. Th covenant is believed to be true even to this day.

Do we believe that the promises of God and the convent God made to our ancestors is binding to this day?

Year Two

2 Kings 22:8-13, 23:1-3

Meditation

Ponder Over the Word of God!

Hilkiah was the high priest of the Temple of Jerusalem.  He was the high priest of the Temple of Jerusalem during the rule of King Josiah of Judah (639-609 BC). The Book of the Law was discovered and read in the presence of the King. The King was moved by the Word of God and wanted to find out more about its facts. Then the King makes arrangements for reform and renewal of nations and people.

The Word of God is powerful and alive. It can move the Kings and authorities to good action. The way to know the Word of God is to read it. It is not enough to read the Word of God but, if possible, learn some passages by heart and recall them time and again. The recalling of the Word of God and pondering over it is one of the best forms of prayer. Such a pondering over the Word of God brings about true transformation in one’s life.

What does the Word of God have done in our life?

Mt 7:15-20

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, you will know them by their fruits.         (Mt 7:18-20)

Grace builds on nature. The fruit depends upon its seed. If the seed is good, it will have good tree and good fruit. If the seed is bad, the tree and the fruit will be equally bad. As the seed, so the tree and so the fruit! Things do not change overnight. Good people do not turn evil all of a sudden, nor do bad people transform into good human beings overnight.  Everyone, however, has the innate possibility for goodness. One may be good or bad, but self-awareness is of crucial importance. Knowledge of the self should lead to self-enhancement and betterment of society. I believe we have the gift to make choices between good and bad. We need to make more positive choices in life so that over a period of time, it will become easier to make good choices that bear good fruits.

Do I make good choices in my life?

Fr. Putti Anthaiah sdb