Doing His Word

The psalmist in the texts from the Roman CatholicLectionary today implores God to remember him when God shows favour to his people. The passage from the Book of Genesis describes the birth of the first son of Abraham, Ishmael. He was the son of Hagar, the Egyptian slave girl of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. Islamic tradition identifies Ishmael as the ancestor of ProphetMuhammad. Genesis presents the promise from God of a multitude of descendants to both Abraham and Hagar. The traditions of Christians, Jews, and Muslims give thanks to God as descendants of the line of Abraham. This favour to His people is the action of God which the psalmist prays will be his experience. The Gospel from Matthew today, which was written by a Jew for a Jewish audience, addresses the need for believers to strive to act according to the will of God. Jesus is teaching the people with an authority about God and His Will that the people identify as authentic. The Evangelist underlines the importance of acting on the Word and moving our lives in a direction which responds positively to our call to show the continued favour of God for His people through our example of living as Jesus disciple.