Father Abraham

The Book of Genesis is the source of the description of the Covenant between God and the descendants of Abraham from the Roman CatholicLectionary for today. The Promise made by God as He changes a name from Abram to Abraham that He will be their God and they will be His people is a starting point for the Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and  Bahá'í Faith. The adherents to these religions comprise over 54% of those who have religious affiliation in the world. The question which is posed is whether they understand the same God. The Promise of God has taken form in descendants of Abraham who do not always live in recognition of the family in which this lineage places them. In the Gospel of John, Jesus proclaims His link to Father Abraham by declaring to the Pharisees and religious authorities of His time that He is able to fulfill the Promise of eternal life because “before Abraham was, I am”( John 8.58). The possibility that God would fulfill the Messianic Promise which involves the eternal restoration of a David-like kingdom through Incarnation of the Divine in human form and that the eternal life promised is one of eternal intimate relationship with the Life of God was “a stumbling block for the Jews”. (1 Corinthians 1.23 ) When we contemplate the fruit of the Promise to Abraham, we need to pray for inspiration from God to discontinue our stumbling over the beliefs of other descendants of Abraham and focus on discernment of His Plan to restore our brothers and sisters to our hearts.