SAINT JUNÍPERO SERRA, PRIEST (OPTIONAL MEMORIAL)

God put Abraham to the test. 

Abraham faced an agonizing decision. God was asking him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, the dearly beloved child who was given to him and Sarah in their old age. Would he choose to obey the Lord even though he didn’t understand why God was asking this of him? Or would he doubt that God is trustworthy and go his own way?

Over the course of our lives, we’ve all undergone “tests” of one kind or another. Serious illnesses. Financial difficulties. Broken relationships. In these and other situations, our faith can be sorely tested. But like Abraham, we also have a choice. Will we choose to believe in a God who keeps his promises? Will we choose to remain faithful to him? Or will we doubt that he is trustworthy and go our own way?

In such situations, it’s not necessarily a quick and easy process to get to the point of saying yes to the Lord. It probably wasn’t quick and easy for Abraham either. It’s not hard to imagine what he might have been thinking as he walked up the mountain. It would have been only human to question God’s goodness and wrestle over what he had to do. But whatever Abraham thought or felt, he chose to obey.

And when Abraham heard the voice from heaven calling out to him, oh, the relief he must have felt! The life of his beloved son had been spared. But Abraham must have also experienced the joy of discovering how faithful God was during this time of testing.

Today, take a few moments and consider a test of faith in your life. Then reflect on how you’ve been responding to it. When you are tempted to doubt, ask God for the grace to trust in his goodness and care. Then choose to believe that he is a God who is always trustworthy and who always keeps his promises.

“I believe that you are faithful, Lord! I will trust and obey you.”

Psalm 115:1-6, 8-9
Matthew 9:1-8
Genesis 22:1-19

WORD AMONG US