A Penitent Blogger
Risk
There are things in this world in which we have totally invested ourselves: into which we have poured much of what has been of value in our lives, onto which we have placed all our hopes, and by which we have established something that will endure on this earth when we are no longer here.
Children fall most obviously into this category, but there are also accomplishments of lasting value that may be likewise cherished by those who have children and those who do not (thus even the celibate may find some meaning in the Old Testament concept of children as God’s blessing).
That is what Abraham risks so dramatically in today’s first reading (Genesis 22:1b-19): for his son is not just his beloved child, but is also the repository of all his hopes, the vindication of all his choices, and his only chance for a legacy beyond concubinage.
Abraham, of course, enjoys a uniquely intimate relationship with God. Throughout history and even today there have been others who have thought they heard the voice of God and there have been psychotics who have even thought they heard such a voice telling them to kill their own children, but Abraham’s channel to the Almighty is real and certain: as is his trust and as is his God.
You and I may be certain that we will never be called by God to murder our own children, yet we can also be certain that being faithful to God and his truth – especially in this day and age – will require us to risk much, perhaps everything we have and hold dear in this world, for the love of God and his people.
Of course, a conscious taking of explicit risks requires proper discernment, especially if the risk extends to others and most especially if serious risk should fall upon those entrusted to our care. God forbid that any of us should risk evil because of a delusion or a deception.
If, however, we should turn against the clear and direct will of God or deny his truth because of fear, then we risk eternity (and the evil we fear will still come).
May we be faithful.
May we discern.
May we risk.
In the name of Jesus.
Children fall most obviously into this category, but there are also accomplishments of lasting value that may be likewise cherished by those who have children and those who do not (thus even the celibate may find some meaning in the Old Testament concept of children as God’s blessing).
That is what Abraham risks so dramatically in today’s first reading (Genesis 22:1b-19): for his son is not just his beloved child, but is also the repository of all his hopes, the vindication of all his choices, and his only chance for a legacy beyond concubinage.
Abraham, of course, enjoys a uniquely intimate relationship with God. Throughout history and even today there have been others who have thought they heard the voice of God and there have been psychotics who have even thought they heard such a voice telling them to kill their own children, but Abraham’s channel to the Almighty is real and certain: as is his trust and as is his God.
You and I may be certain that we will never be called by God to murder our own children, yet we can also be certain that being faithful to God and his truth – especially in this day and age – will require us to risk much, perhaps everything we have and hold dear in this world, for the love of God and his people.
Of course, a conscious taking of explicit risks requires proper discernment, especially if the risk extends to others and most especially if serious risk should fall upon those entrusted to our care. God forbid that any of us should risk evil because of a delusion or a deception.
If, however, we should turn against the clear and direct will of God or deny his truth because of fear, then we risk eternity (and the evil we fear will still come).
May we be faithful.
May we discern.
May we risk.
In the name of Jesus.
posted by Penitens | 11:51 AM
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