Romans 4:13 - 18 Paraphrase v13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of [[1- Faith]]. For the promised blessing, that he should obtain the allotted portion of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his offspring, through the law, but through the integrity of faith. v14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: For if those who are under the law are heirs, faith is empty, and the promised blessing is abolished: v15 Because the law works wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Because the law renders one fit for wrath: for where there is no law, there is no transgression. v16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, Therefore it is by faith, that it might be by loving-kindness; to the end the promised blessing might be sure to all the offspring; not that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the conviction of Abraham; who is the father of us all, v17 (As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickens the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were. (As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations,) before him whom he placed his confidence in, even God, who restores the departed to life, and invites those things which are not as though they were. v18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall your seed be. Who by expectation of good was persuaded by hope, that he might become the father of many peoples, according to that which was spoken, So shall your offspring be. --- Then came to [Jesus] the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, “What do you want?” She said unto him, “Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on your right hand, and the other on the left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered and said, “You know not what you ask. Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They say unto him, “We are able.” And he said unto them, “You shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father (Matt 20:20-23). It was not Christ’s to give… Can you imagine hearing those words with your own ears? Sitting at the feet of the One who holds the cosmos together (Col 1:17), the disciples hear Jesus say something is not in his power to give. They are not disturbed. Perhaps they understood that those who would sit at Christ’s right and left were chosen before he was born. Mary, our Blessed Mother, sits at his right, and Father Abraham sits on his left. St Louis de Montfort spoke of the Secret of Mary, maybe now is the time to speak of the Secret of Abraham. Our lesson makes it very clear that Abraham is the father of all the faithful. We have learned the secret of Mary, and practice a deep [[1- The Purple Ray of Devotion|devotion]] to her, but we have (for centuries) ignored the secret of Abraham. In these days of terrorism and anti-Semitism, true devotion to Father Abraham is more important than ever. Abraham is the Father of All faithful, whether Jew, Christian, or Moslem, for he is the father of many nations. Secondly, God has promised to bless those who bless Abraham: “And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curse you: and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed (Gen 12:3).” Through devotion to Father Abraham, we learn from his weaknesses, practice his strengths, and adopt his simple faith. What a blessing it is to know that the God, who created the vastness of the cosmos, is so close to us we can hear the voice of Providence in our own breath, the soft [[5- Wisdom]] arising during meditation. Blessed Abraham, the first monotheist (Josh 24:2), the father of all faithful, guide us in your simplicity to smash the idols we have made in our own lives. It is absolutely necessary that we learn to worship God beyond all images. The God of Abraham is beyond idols, beyond words, beyond the law. Unless we come to know this God, our faith is in vain. True devotion to Abraham reminds us to go beyond the images of faith, past our participation in the fullness (Pleroma) of the Godhead, further than the experience of the Trinity, to the transcendent face of the Godhead. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, “In you shall all nations be blessed.” So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, “Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, “The just shall live by faith.” And the law is not of faith: but, The man that does them shall live in them. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, “Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:” That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannuls or adds thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He said not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to your seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise (Gal 3:6-18). True Devotion to Abraham is indispensable to all who believe. He reminds the Jews of Isaac, Jacob, and Moses, the fathers of their nation. He reminds the Moslem of Ishmael and Muhammad, the fathers of their nation. He reminds the Christian of Jesus, our brother, and our hope unto resurrection. God’s faithfulness to Abraham through his children emboldens our hope that the Divine will be faithful to us. The Christian faith is established on the loving-kindness of God toward believers, that God will keep the promises spoken through the prophets for our enrichment and salvation. In witnessing the hand of Providence preserving the children of Abraham as they vainly fought for these many centuries, we witness the hand that will save us from the grave. May the children of Isaac, Ishmael, and the Promise, put aside their useless striving to prove themselves the most beloved of God, and recognize that we are all children of Abraham, and God loves us all. Reconciliation of Jews, Christians, and Moslems, one to the other, is the highest work of those who practice a true devotion to Father Abraham. We must support an end to the violence in the Middle East, not allowing our passions to get the best of us. There are no hands in the conflict free from the stains of innocent blood. We must condemn the longing for the massacre of Israel that Evangelical Christians believe will usher in the return of Christ. The Kingdom “will not come by watching for it. It will not be said, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘Look, there it is.’ Rather, the father’s kingdom is spread out upon the earth, and people do not see it (Marvin Meyer, the Gospel of Thomas, P. 63)." Awaiting, planning, and reveling in the genocide of a nation is an abomination in the sight of God. We must correct and rebuke such teachings, and if necessary, expel such people from our congregations. Perfect devotion to Father Abraham consists in living with simple faith the gospel that we are saved through grace alone, by faith alone, for the Glory of God alone, that none should boast. In our devotion, we learn to imitate his simple faith. When we consecrate ourselves to true devotion to Father Abraham, we humble ourselves, because it is impossible for us to pretend we are the only ones who possess Abraham. The insanity of that claim is self-evident. A humble faith cannot pretend to be the only way to know and enter God; neither does it pretend that all religions are the same. As children of the Promise, we encounter God through Christ. It is obvious even to a child that the experiences of the Children of Isaac and Ishmael are necessarily diverse from each other and ours. No two people receiving the Eucharist will share the same experience. Our interpretations of our encounters with the Divine are always clouded by culture. Diversity is not a problem; it is a blessing. Imagine a symphony where everyone plays the same note on the same instrument at the same time. It wouldn’t be much of a symphony, would it? Each religion is a different instrument, and each tradition is a different line (melody or harmony), and each believer is a performer in the celestial symphony. Devotion to Father Abraham reminds us of the importance of our personal faith, our tradition, and our religion, and its relationship with others (Gen 14:18-20). Should you choose to practice this devotion, you must be ready to answer your call like Abraham (Gen 12:1-3), fellowship with all believers regardless of religion (Gen 14:18-20), question God sincerely (Gen 18:23-32), and respond to God with a simple, “I am here (Gen 22:11).” When the Spirit of God calls us to ministry, we must follow Abraham’s example to pick up everything and go (Gen 12:1-3). A vocation has been prepared for each and every one of us, and it is our responsibility to discover it, and to fulfill it to the best of our ability. No one else can show us our calling, but it is not too hard to find. Follow your bliss, it is like a path of breadcrumbs leading you to the life you were meant to live. Father Abraham fellowshipped with all believers regardless of the name they called God (Gen 14:18-20), and so must we. The practice of deep ecumenism is essential to our quest to seek out wisdom. We must go wherever we find truth, justice, and loving-kindness. These are the distinguishing marks of the children of God, no matter what they call themselves or God. A true believer questions God sincerely (Gen 18:23-32), and does not except blindly the rehearsed answers of priests, or the crystallized wisdom of ages past. Knowledge and wisdom are ever evolving. Do not drink from stagnant pools. Seek out the flowing waters that run through the Rock. There you will find the wisdom to question, not to piously presume answers. Finally, learn to respond to God with a simple, “I am here (Gen 22:11).” Be ever mindful of the present moment, or you will loose sight of God. The power of God is the [[Magic]] of nowness. Cultivate mindfulness, and learn to live in the flow of life. All of these practices grow within you, and mold you to the simple faith of Father Abraham. It is wise to make formal consecration to Father Abraham on his feast day (October 9), and to renew this vow every year. On this day make a special effort to be a blessing to every one that you encounter. Do some volunteer work. Fulfill the scripture that Abraham’s offspring would be a blessing to all families. If you are curious, try incorporating the Chaplet of Father Abraham into your regular devotions. Read his life, and always give thanks to God for the gift we have received through the faith of Abraham and Christ. Blessed Abraham, father of many nations, thank you for your simple faith. Through your faith our Blessed Mother Mary was born, and through her faith, the savior, Christ Jesus, was born into the world. Through his cross, the ultimate testament of his faith, atonement for sin was made for all, and the grace to enter into personal relationship with God was opened to all. Help us all to learn from your simple, “I am here.” Amazing that so many blessings could enter the world through such a simple faith. Pray for all your children, Father Abraham that we may all learn to live in harmony, one with another. Amen. The peace of Christ be with you all. Amen.