12th Week in Ord. Time, Monday – 26th June 2023 – Genesis 12,1-9; Mt 7,1-5
Promise of Great Blessings
The first reading from the book of Genesis presents Yahweh’s first great promise of Abram. God’s original blessing on all mankind would be restored and fulfilled through Abram and his offspring in various ways and degrees. At first, Abram hears the Lord’s call to leave his homeland and journey to a new land which God will show him. God, then, will not only bless Abram and his descendants, but he will be a source of blessing for many other people and nations. Altogether the word “bless/blessing” occurs five times in this promise of Yahweh. God has chosen Abram. He responds in obedience and therefore is blessed even more abundantly. Blessings flow to others because of Abram’s response to God’s blessing. Thus, God makes a triple promise: land, descendants, and source of blessings for others as he shares what he has with others. This triple promise is repeated four times (Gen 12,2-7; 13,2-3.15-16; 15,5-8; 17,4-8). These promises were re-affirmed to Abram, Isaac, and Moses. To fully experience these blessings, Abram has to be faithful (full of faith) and share that faith with others. God wants to bless all people through the faith which Abraham demonstrated – a willingness to respond to God’s call and do what God asks.
