who gives life to the dead

Thursday, March 19, 2009 St. Joseph, Husband of the Virgin Mary (Solemnity) (Total Consecration - Day 28)

First Reading: Psalm: Second Reading: Gospel: 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16 Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29 Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22 Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 or Luke 2:41-51

Romans 4:17 as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations" -- in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

What was it that Abraham believed that was credited to him as righteousness? Well, basically it was the belief that God would make him the father of many nations. But in order for that to happen he had to obey one of God's commands. That was to kill his only son.
Now, we would look at that in horror, and probably because we are so familiar with the story and because we know the outcome we tend to not get too excited about it. But what if God asked one of us to kill our only child? Would we?
We tend to be results oriented. We judge things based on the value that we see and the possibilities that we understand. But God can raise people from the dead. He can turn stones into soldiers. He can create out of nothing. He can do anything. So with God the results is not so important. He can make the results he wants. What is important is that we make the right choices. It is important that we trust in him enough to do what he asks regardless of the results. We need to leave the results to him.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to trust you so completely that I would be willing to do what you ask. Lord I believe, help my unbelief.

Amen