1st Reading Genesis 12:1-4a
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22 (R. 22)
R:// "May your merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you, O Lord"
2nd Reading 2 Timothy 1:8b-10
Gospel Matthew 17:1-9
BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING
Friends, Peace and Goodness! Today, we enter the second week of Lent. Today is also the first Sunday of March, the 3rd month of the year. We thank God for his providence and his many graces. March in the Catholic Church is traditionally dedicated to St. Joseph. Throughout the New Testament, especially in the Gospels, we do not hear Joseph talking much. He rather acts more. The lengthy parts of Lent this year is within March. I suggest that as we go through Lent, we should begin to learn from St. Joseph how to discern and carry out the will of God, even if it inconveniences us. Surrender your will to God's. In His will is our peace.
The first reading for this Sunday is from Genesis 12:1-4a and the Gospel is from Matthew 17:1-9. Let us stay with the first reading and say few words about it.
The first reading, Genesis 12:1-4a, is the often-heard narrative of God calling Abram out to a land He (God) will show him. He calls him to leave Haran. God's call to him is accompanied by blessings. Let us dwell on three important details.
The first thing we should focus on is that Abram is called to leave three important things. These things gave an identity to Abram. His is to leave his country. This is his national identity. He is also to leave his kindred or relatives. This is his family identity. He is then to leave his father's house [בֵּית אָב (bēyt 'āb)]. This could be a family identity also. However, it includes security and inheritance. This is economic identity. The wealth of a father is usually distributed among the sons. Being of a house dictates your share of the wealth. Abram is actually the first, at least, according the order of the naming of the sons of Terah (Gen. 11:26). This suggests that Abram could have been the first son to Terah. By primogeniture, Abram would be entitled a larger wealth and economic security. Yet, God is telling him to leave that, too. How difficult it would be!
Identity, protection, and economic stability, in Ancient Near East, were rooted in family and land. To leave these behind was a step into vulnerability. Abram's vulnerability is stressed by the fact that God is not specifying the destination. Thus, "...to a land that I will show you". However, realise that God is calling Abram from a relatively smaller group, be it his country, his family, or his possible inheritance. These are small groups. The first reading will point out in a third detail we shall look at soon that he something bigger awaits him. We lose the smaller groups in order to be available to have a bigger one. That transition disposes us to vulnerabilities. That is the particular point of trust I the providence and will of God. When and where you are weakest, there trust should be at its peak.
The second detail concerns the promises God gave to Abram. The promises are structured around blessing [בָּרַךְ (bārǎḵ)]. Notice that there are seven (7) promises. The first promise is "I will make you a great nation". How is this possible? Abram and Sarai are childless. This brings the barrenness of Sarai into question. He is unable to bear children. The promise to Abram is wrapped with blessings. In fact, in just two verses, the author used Blessing five (5) times. The Hebrew word for "Bless" is "bārǎḵ (בָּרַךְ). In Genesis 1:22, we hear the author using the word "Bless" for the first time. God blessed sea creatures and said "be fruitful and multiply". In fact, God also blessed mankind in Genesis 1:28 and said "be fruitful and multiply". I want to suggest that whenever there is blessing, there is abundance. Blessing comes with plenty. What God is telling Abram is that eventhough he is leaving a small group where his identity was, he will get in abundance to the extent of five (5), the number for God's goodness and Grace.
Additionally, notice that there are 7 promises. In scripture, the number 7 is the number for completeness and perfection. Notice that from Genesis 3-11, there is a fractured world. What Genesis 12, starting with the story of Abram, is doing is that Abram becomes the starting point of God's recreative work in history. This is the reward for properly disposing ourselves in times of vulnerability. We merit the gift and grace of God.
The third detail lies in the last promise. Thus, "All the families of the earth will find blessing in you" (Gen. 12:3b). You are made for others and to bless others. The Hebrew word used by the author for FAMILIES is "MISHPECHOT", not "GOYIM" (nations). "Mishpechot" looks at smaller kinship units rather than political entities like nations. Remember that just in Genesis 10, the bale of nations, where humanity is divided into families and clans. That fragmentation was occurred after the incident at Babel. The scattering of families in Genesis 11 is now answered by a blessing aimed at families in Genesis 12. Abram is told to leave his relatives and father's house. Yet, through him all families, especially scattered families, will be blessed. Abram loses one family structure but becomes the instrument for restoring unity. Unity births abundance.
Peace and Goodness
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