“Build on the Foundation of God’s Love” by
Beth DeCristofaro
Abram told Sarai: "Your maid is in
your power. Do to her whatever you please." Sarai then abused her so much
that Hagar ran away from her. … But the LORD's messenger told her: "Go
back to your mistress and submit to her abusive treatment. I will make your
descendants so numerous," added the LORD's messenger, "that they will
be too many to count. Besides," the LORD's messenger said to her:
"You are now pregnant and shall bear a son; you shall name him Ishmael,
For the LORD has heard you, God has answered you. (Genesis 16:6, 9-11)
Jesus said to his disciples: "Not
everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but
only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. … "Everyone who
listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who
built his house on rock. … And everyone who listens to these words of mine but
does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain
fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it
collapsed and was completely ruined." (Matthew 7:21, 24. 26-27)
Piety
Grant, O Lord, that we may always revere and
love your holy name, for you never deprive of your guidance those you set firm
on the foundation of you love. Through
our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever.
(Collect from the Mass of the Day)
Study
The cliché “into each life some rain must
fall” is a pretty tame description of what many people face. Sarai faced the humiliation and indeed the
devaluation of her identity due to childlessness. And Hagar was abused for it – forced into a
sexual relationship and then mistreated.
Both faced storms what could have crushed them. Their reactions were so different. One took her anger out on the other. Sarai ran away but then trusted – against her
lived experience – that the word of God was good and she became “grandmother”
to numerous descendants. God retained
the right to disperse judgment and mercy to both women.
We also are asked to live in a way that takes
responsibility for our lives in stormy or benign weather. It is with certainty that we know storms will
come. Do we know for certain that God
will be with us in the desert or the flood?
Preparing by each and every day making room for God in our lives – not
just mouthing “Lord, Lord” for our own schemes - prepares us to lean on God
when needed and stand strong for others when called upon. Even if asked to stay in the storm, or a
situation which seems hopeless, we can rely on God to be with us.
Action
Is
there a place in my life in which I am not shouldering the responsibility which
the Lord asks of me? Are there times I
am mouthing “Lord, Lord” yet not accepting His will any deeper than my
lips? Spend time in prayer with
Him.
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