Homily: Thirteenth Friday of Ordinary Time
Homily: Thirteenth Friday of Ordinary Time (Genesis 23:1ff) “The Promise that Will Never Die”
We have some customs in the Bible that seem rather strange to us. We read today about a servant making a promise to Abraham at the end of his life. Abraham wants the servant to find his son Isaac a wife from his home territory. This is a solemn promise.
The servant swears in a most unusual way. He does not swear on a holy book. The two men do not shake hands. But the senior servant places his hand under Abraham’s thigh. This is a polite way to say that the servant swore on Abraham’s reproductive organs.
The servant was swearing on Abraham’s seed. Abraham was the father of a great nation. God had promised him that he would be the father of a chosen people. Nothing was more sacred to Abraham and his servant than the covenant. The solemn promise would be passed on to Isaac and his children. An appropriate wife had to be procured.
The servant went off to Abraham’s home territory and he arrived at a well. Women were coming to fill their jugs with water. A beautiful woman came to fill her jug. The servant asked her for a drink. She then said she would water all his camels as well. Her generosity told him that she was the one who God had picked to be Isaac’s wife. Her name was Rebekah.
When she arrived back at Abraham’s home, she fell in love with Isaac the moment she saw him. She was so moved by the sight of him she jumped off her camel. The servant had kept his promise. God had intervened once again. The covenant that Abraham had made with God was secure.
As we continue to read, we cannot help but be impressed by how the divine promise is passed from generation to generation, and now it is passed on to us. God’s providence is still at work.
Reflection Questions:
- Do I believe in love at first sight? Have I had such an experience?
- Do I believe that I am in a covenant with God? What tells me that?
Dear Parishioners,
This weekend we will be loosening more protocols. We will go back to our normal communion pattern for example. We will have a double line and will be having three stations in the middle aisle.
It has been shown that just walking by someone is not likely to cause and infection so we should be safe. We also are going to start to sing Mass parts. This will be a welcome change as well.
We give thanks for the various vaccines and that we are back together. There are still people who are not aware that we are fully open. Please share that information with your friends and neighbors.
May Our Lady and All the Angels and Saints watch over you.
Fr. Mark