Your descendants shall be as plentiful as the dust of the earth,
and through them you shall spread out east and west, north and south.
In you and your descendants
all the nations of the earth shall find blessing.
Know that I am with you...
A blessing unshared can't be worth much. Is anyone really impressed by bragging rights of ownership or accomplishment? Do we share their joy or laugh behind their backs?
Adam needed to share the pleasures of gardening with his wife Eve, and Abraham could not be satisfied until Isaac was born. Nor could God's word be fulfilled until "Abraham saw my day and was satisfied." Always, we want more and that insatiable desire can be eased only by sharing the blessings we have received. When others are pleased by the gifts we have passed along to them, then we may enjoy a fullness of satisfaction and gratitude.
In today's first reading we hear of God's renewing Abraham's promise to his grandson Jacob. The promise has not changed, but has become richer. It will embrace not only all the families of the Earth; it will include east and west, north and south. Almost two millennia later, Jesus would rejoice to see people coming from every direction to hear God's word.
As administrators of God's merciful kindness, we are called to share the Good News of salvation with our families, colleagues, friends, neighbors, and enemies. We do so carefully, of course; for we do not throw pearls to swine. We listen and watch to see who might be ready to hear and receive the good word. We may apply the salve of God's healing word if and when we're permitted to touch the sore. And, when assured of a hearing, we don't want to apply it too vigorously. That might rub in the hurt, rather than the blessing.
Because we do not possess the word of God, we can take no pleasure in supposing we're more blessed than those who have not heard. But we are both grateful and glad that the Word of God has taken possession of us and uses us, despite our unworthy foolishness.
Jacob received the blessing and shared it eagerly with his children, but we do not admire him as the most admirable saint in the scriptures. He remained his mother's son, with a bit of the rascal still in him. We remember him because the Lord blessed him. And we honor him especially with the traditional formula -- "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" -- as a noble ancestor of Jesus.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.