Holy
Rosary Month - Day 4: Preparatory Mysteries 3
Sacrifice
of Abraham: In
the third preparatory mystery we meditate
on the Sacrifice of Abraham.
Seeing the faithfulness of Noah, God blessed him and his sons, and said to
them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” (Gen 9:1) This was the
same blessing the first men received, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the
earth and subdue it.” (Gen 1:28) It reminds us also of the similar situations
before God’s creation of the world and humankind (i.e. “the earth was a
formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep.” Gen 1:2) as well as
before the flood (i.e. “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth
was filled with violence. And God saw that the earth was corrupt; for all flesh
had corrupted its ways upon the earth.” (Gen 6:11, 12) After each fall of man
it is God who takes the initiative to lift man up and draws closer to him. This
steadfast love continues without fail to the call of Abraham descendant of
Noah’s son Shem. Abraham’s call narrative is incredibly colorful with the
promises of God’s blessings; abundance of children and land. (Gen 12:1-3)
Though Abraham was old, his wife was barren, and is going to an unknown place; he
believed in God’s promise and went as the Lord directed him. A life that taught
us clearly what a life of faith is; a role model that made Paul define what
faith is. Paul says, “To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to
be certain of the things we cannot see.” (Heb 11:1) Even this life model was
tested to prepare mankind as to receive the redeemer centuries later. You are
primarily called to receive God himself; not his gifts. When you go astray from
this call, God makes it sure that you love God more than anything else. It is
because of this God said to Abraham, “Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom
you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a
holocaust on a height that I will point out to you.” (Gen 22:2) Abraham’s
“Amen” on the mountain Moriah was a preparation for Mary’s “Amen” at Nazareth.
Prayer:
Oh Mary, mother
of Jesus! We come to you for your help and protection. How steadfast is God’s
love and mercy toward mankind! Mary our mother and guide help us to understand
the meaning of being faithful and thankful to God our father. In this mystery
we specially pray for those who are on the verge of denouncing faith in Jesus
because of trials, and difficulties in their lives. Let them understand that
“the purpose of different kinds of trials is to prove that their faith is
genuine.” (1Pt 1:7) Amen!
Greetings:
Wish you all a nice and blissful Marian Saturday!
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