Lessons from Abraham, our Father in Faith

We are People of God. As such, we have an ancient heritage, dating back to Abraham. For this reason we should consider the faith journey of our renowned patriarch.

Abraham

Abraham had nothing to boast about concerning his own merits in the presence of God. It was God Who sought him even before he knew the One Who sought him. Encountered by the Unknown One, he is told to: “Set out from your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you” (Gen. 12:1).

This invitation will be repeated by an unknown itinerant preacher from Nazareth to a group of fishermen: “Put out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch” (Lk. 5:4).

Leaving all that was comfortable and familiar, our patriarch in the faith is like the apostles, set out on a journey of faith into the depths of God’s provident love and grace. Not knowing where the journey would lead, he followed the Voice that spoke to his heart. It was this obedience of faith that was accounted as righteousness.

Newness of life is offered to all who surrender to the movement of grace. The initiation rite does not justify us. Circumcision or baptism serve as a sign that we have responded to the One who called us.

In this light, Abraham is our Father in the Faith. Following in his footsteps, we run on the path of God’s commandments with our hearts expanded by the inexpressible delight of love.

The seal ofthe Holy Spirit is our sanctification, making us new creatures conformed to Christ. The object of our faith is God and God alone, in whom we are justified and recreated. Because of God’s love for us, our sins have been atoned and our iniquity cleansed.

Since Christ has taken all our sins to Himself, let us walk in the freedom that His victory has won for us. As children of the kingdom, let us sincerely seek to do the will of Him who created and redeemed us.

The author of the Letter to the Hebrews wrote: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the guarantee that the things not seen are true” (Heb. 11:1). The assurance of our hope is in Christ who has told us that we are precious in the Father’s eyes.

God has told us to cast our cares upon Him because He cares for each of us individually and promises to provide for all our needs.

Allow me to close with a blessing.


Wherever your faith journey may lead, may the Living Lord go with you; May he go behind you, to encourage you, beside you, to befriend you, above you, to watch over you, beneath you, to lift you from your sorrows, within you, to give you the gifts of faith, hope, and love, and always before you, to show you the way. Amen.
(Benediction - Blair Monie)

--Father Jerome Machar, OSCO

Transfiguration: This Is My Beloved Son. Listen to Him.

The Feast of the Transfiguraton feast reminds us that God has not abandoned creation; that the body is not discarded as though it were an article of clothing, that it does not exit history as though it were a theatrical role. In the shadow of the Cross we know that creation moves toward transfiguration in this very way. Remember how the Lord invited His disciples to “Come away to a desert solitude where they could rest a while” (Mk. 6:31). He is the Good Shepherd Who knows our needs and provides for the needs of those whom He has called to Himself. By the grace of our Christian calling, Christ has invited us to follow Him into the wilderness where He can purify our hearts and make us reflect His glory.

Transfiguration of Jesus with Moses and Elijah

We have been invited to follow Christ as He climbs the heights where we can encounter the Father in the communion of the Spirit. There, separated from the concerns of secular society, we gaze upon the radiance of Christ’s face, who is the image of God in the flesh. (Cf. 2 Cor. 4:4). For a moment we are surrounded by the splendor of uncreated light. For a moment, the veil is lifted and we are caught up in the glory of eternity.

The experience passes all too quickly and we are brought back to day-to-day reality, where we see only Jesus in the ordinariness of His human nature. The Transfiguration marks a decisive moment in the ministry of Jesus. It is a revelatory event which strengthens the faith in the disciples' hearts, preparing them for the tragedy of the Cross and prefigures the glory of the Resurrection. Jesus' divinity is lifted up on the cross. Only when we put the two together can we recognize the Beloved Son for Who He truly is. With the apostles, we contemplate the transfigured face of Christ whose radiance brightens the countenance of the Church which is His Body. The more we are conformed to Christ we will manifest the glory of God to all the world.

Gazing at the transforming Glory, we come to know the great power that abides in the person of God's beloved Son. The Word made Flesh makes tangible the love of the Father. As companions of the Incarnate Word we are invited to taste a sweetness, and feel a power, and see a glory that is truly divine. Immersion in the Scriptures disposes us for heavenly vision.

Deep in his heart the disciple must find his way by relying on the call of faith, by trusting in prayer, by seeking to encounter Jesus Christ. In this way we become men and women who are profoundly good, pure and mature. In the countenance of Jesus, the "image of the invisible God" (Col 1:15) and the reflection of the Father's glory (cf. Heb 1:3), we glimpse the depths of an eternal and infinite love which is at the very root of our being. Those who let themselves be seized by this love cannot help abandoning everything to follow him (cf. Mk 1:16-20; 2:14; 10:21, 28). Like Saint Paul, they consider all else as loss "because of the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ", by comparison with which they do not hesitate to count all things as "refuse", in order that they "may gain Christ" (Phil 3:8).

The vision atop Mount Tabor is awesome and wonderful but God has more than bright lights to show us. The vision he confers gives direction as well as light. His direction is clear: “Listen to my Son.” Not only does this instruction complete the vision but it also ensures greater vision in the future. If we obey Jesus Christ, we will see greater things (Jn 1:50). If we follow him. he will lead us to the light and we will see all things by it. But note this--where Jesus leads is not always easy. In order to obey the Father’s command that they listen to Jesus, they are going to have to accept Christ’s instruction that they follow him to Jerusalem and the cross. Only in this way will they see all things by the light of Easter glory.

May God grant us vision, especially as we receive Him in Holy Communion and He is present substantially within our hearts and souls.

--Father Jerome Machar, OSCO

Who Do You Follow?

Follow can be a tricky word. Social media uses it for what we keep up with or find interesting. It can also mean to come after, go after, or be with. And while you may have friended Jesus, stood behind Him in line, monitored His actions, or hung out with Him, that's not what I'm talking about.

"No, I'm not talking about Twitter. I literally want you to follow me." --Jesus  We follow completely, or not at all

There's another definition of follow--to accept as authority or guide, imitate or conform to. This has a deeper purpose, one cleverly described in the Bible though the word is never mentioned.

Jesus and His disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee to the land of the Gergesenes. Many Jews lived there but did not hold to Jewish laws. As Jesus got out of the boat, a man rushed toward Him and screamed. Upon Jesus' command, demons left the poor man, entered a herd of pigs, and killed them.

News spread quickly. When people learned what had happened and saw the man calm and in his right mind, they were afraid. Wanting no part of Jesus, they begged Him to leave them, even as the man begged to be with Him. But Jesus would not allow it.


Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had compassion for you and mercy on you.


The man did as he was told. Then he traveled throughout the region, sharing what Jesus had done for him. And all people--Jews and Gentiles--were amazed. (see Mark 5:1-20)


This account tells of the presence of evil and Jesus' power over it, as well as the depth of His compassion and mercy. But these verses also speak of what it means to follow the Son of God.

Remember the disciples? In all that happened, they did nothing. Even after the man was released, none came to his aid. They followed Jesus just to tag along and accompany Him, but were not involved in His work.
 
What about the Gergesenes? They heard the report and rushed to see for themselves. Yet they were only keeping up with the news. They followed Jesus because they found Him interesting, but refused to be part of His work.

And what of the man himself? Tortured and chained, he had lived a horrible life. Jesus set him free and he was grateful. He desperately wanted to follow Jesus to be with Him. But simply being with Him was not enough for Jesus.

Jesus wanted conviction. He wanted commitment. He wanted this man to accept Him as his sole authority, guide, teacher, lord and master. He wanted him to walk as He walked, love as He loved, and conform his entire life to one of obedience. Jesus wanted this man to follow Him.

And he did. The man obeyed Jesus' instructions, going far beyond what was required. He went not only to his family and friends, but to people throughout the region. He shared what Jesus had done for him. He told of His compassion and mercy. And the people were astounded.

This is what God means when He says, Follow. We are called to follow Him. No one else. Not a beloved pastor, minister, or priest. Not a politician, community leader, or friend. In all we do, we are to follow the one and only Living God. And when we do, we stand amazed in His presence.

So tell me. Want to experience the love of a lifetime and beyond? Who do you follow?

Take Care and Be God's.

Chuck Graham

(republished with permission from CILOA.com)

Be Who God Meant You to Be and You Will Set the World on Fire

The Acts of the Apostles tells us how the early church saw itself in relationship to the Holy Spirit. They sought the direction of the Spirit in all they did. When the Spirit did not move them, they waited on Him. Recall the trek across the Sinai desert. "Whenever the cloud rose from the Dwelling, the Israelites would set out on their journey. But if the cloud did not lift, they would not go forward; only when it lifted did they go forward “(Ex. 40: 36-37). With the breath of the Spirit at their backs and the fire of divine love in their hearts, the disciples of the Lord engaged in the task for which they were appointed. Christ's ministers are to be employed in Christ's work, and, under the Spirit's guidance, to act for the glory of God the Father.

Scripture reminds us that God formed us out of the clay of the earth. He is the potter and we are the work of His hands. We are earthen vessels made to contain a sacred treasure, the fire of divine love. We have only to recall the words of the Emmaus pilgrims, "Were not our hearts burning within us." If you want to discern what God wants you to do, check the fire within you. God has shed His light upon us, we have only to follow the light. By so doing we will come to know the comfort of leaning upon and dialoguing with God. By looking to the Eternal Light we are freed from the darkness of ignorance, error, sin and misery.

We are children of the light and need to put aside the things of darkness. As such, we are the object of God's love. Recall these words taken from the Letter to the Ephesians: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” (Eph. 5:8).God desires to enter into a heart-to-heart conversation with each of us. If we willingly enter into this dialogue, He will fan even the smallest spark into a blazing fire. He will then place our earthen vessels on lamp stands for all the walk in the light of life. The more we allow the light of divine love to radiate from within us, the more will the world come to know how to live until the perfect day comes and all the shadows of darkness will flee away. I will close with one of St. Catherine's most famous comments. “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire."

--Father Jerome Machar, OSCO