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A
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Dear Carol:
1 Corinthians 10:13
No trial has come to you but what is human. God is
faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your
strength; but with the trial he will also provide
a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.
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Towering Figures from the Old Testament |
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Isaac
The First Son of the Covenant |
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Introduction |
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As the LORD promised Sarah bears Abraham a son
when he is about 100 years old. Some time
later God puts Abraham to the test and tells
him to offer up his only son Isaac as a
holocaust. Without hesitation Abraham goes to
the mountain of Moriah as the LORD commanded,
builds an altar and prepares to sacrifice
Isaac.
The angel of the LORD intercedes and stops
Abraham and commends him for not hesitating to
do as the LORD commanded. Abraham is promised
that his descendants |
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will be as numerous as the stars. The LORD
tells Abraham that from his son will spring forth
nations and rulers. |
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Finding a Wife for Isaac
Abraham is now of the ripe old age, and the LORD
had blessed him in every way. Abraham says to
his servant who had charge of all his
possessions to swear by the LORD that he will
find a wife for his son Isaac in Abraham’s own
land and among his kindred and not from the
daughters of the Canaanites among whom Abraham
lives. Further Abraham makes his servant swear
to bring the chosen one back to Canaan and not
to take Isaac back to his own homeland for any
reason.
Abraham also tells him that the LORD will send
His messenger before the servant so he will
obtain a wife for his son there. |
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Abraham tells his servant that if the woman is
unwilling to follow him, he will be released
from this oath.
So the servant swears to his master Abraham and
then takes ten of his master's camels laden with
all kinds of gifts from his master on his way to
the city of Nahor in Aram Naharaim. |
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Abraham's
Servant Meets Rebekah |
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Rebekah at the Well |
Near evening he and the camels stop at the
well outside the city. He then prays to the
LORD, God of his master Abraham, to fulfill the
mission that his master had given him. He adds
that while he stands at the spring to let the
girl who offers him a drink and water to his
camels, too, be the one whom He has decided upon
for His servant Isaac.
Just as he finishes praying a very beautiful
virgin girl named Rebekah comes out with a jug
on her shoulder. She goes down to the spring and
fills her jug. As she comes up, the servant runs
toward her and asks to give him a sip of water
from her jug. Rebekah tells the servant to take
a drink and quickly lowering the jug onto her
hand, she gives him a drink. After that she says that she will draw
water for his camels, too, until they have drunk
their fill. |
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With that, she quickly empties her jug into the
drinking trough and runs back to the well to
draw more water, until she has enough water for
all the camels. The man watches her the whole
time, silently waiting to learn whether or not
the LORD has made his errand successful.
When the camels finish drinking, the man takes
out a gold ring weighing half a shekel, which he
fastens it on her nose. He also takes out two
gold bracelets weighing ten shekels, which he
puts on her wrists. Then he asks her who her
father is and he also asks if there is room in
her father's house for them to spend the night.
Rebekah turns out to be the daughter of Bethuel,
son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham's brother
Nahor. She also says there is plenty of straw
and fodder at her place and room to spend the
night.
The man then bows down in worship to the
LORD thanking Him for not failing his master
and leading him straight to the house of his
master's brother. Then the girl runs off and
tells her mother's household about it.
Rebekah has a brother named Laban. He rushes
outside to the man at the spring as soon as
he sees the ring and the bracelets on his
sister Rebekah and hears her words about
what the man had said to her. When he
reaches him, he is still standing by the
camels at the spring.
Then Laban invites the servant and the men who
came with him to dine in his house and offers fodder
for the camels. Then they bring water to bathe
the servant’s feet and the feet of the men who
are with him. When it is time to eat, the
servant tells them that he cannot eat until he
tells them of his mission.
He tells them that he is a servant of Abraham’s,
whom the LORD has blessed so abundantly that he
has become a wealthy man. The
wife of his master Abraham Sarah bore Abraham a
son in their old age, and he has given the son
everything he owns. His
master Abraham sent him here to his home land in
search of a wife for his only son.
He then tells them his oath to Abraham until
what happened at the well. Since this is the
will of the LORD, Laban and his household offers
Rebekah to take with him that she may become the
wife of his master's son, as the LORD has said. |
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Then the servant bows to the ground in
thanksgiving before the LORD. Then he brings out
objects of silver and gold and articles of
clothing and presents them to Rebekah. He also
gives costly presents to her brother and mother
and starts to eat. After feasting, they rest for
the night and on the next morning the servant
asks leave to return to his master. After some
hesitation on the part of Laban and his mother,
the servant leaves with Rebekah and her nurse
back to his master’s house. |
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Isaac
Meets Rebekah
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Isaac Meets Rebekah |
Meanwhile Isaac had left from Beer-lahai-roi and
is living in the region of the Negeb. One day
toward evening he goes out in the field and sees
a caravan of camels approaching.
Rebekah on seeing him approach gets down from
her camel and asks the servant who the man out
there is. The servant answers that that man
walking towards them is his master. Rebekah then
she covers herself with her veil. The servant
recounts to Isaac all the things he had done.
Then Isaac takes Rebekah into his tent; he marries
her, and thus she becomes his wife. In his love for
her, Isaac finds solace after the death of his
mother Sarah. Isaac is by then forty years old.
Although Abraham has other sons by his concubines,
he deeds everything |
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that he owns to his son Isaac. To his sons by his
concubines, however, he makes grants while he was
still living, as he sends them away eastward, to
the land of Kedem, away from his
son Isaac.
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Rebekah does not bear a son for Isaac for she is
barren. So Isaac prays to the LORD on behalf of his
wife. The LORD hears Isaac, and Rebekah becomes
pregnant with twins who even in her womb are
quarrelling. The LORD tells Rebekah that from her
two sons will rise two nations, and that the older
shall serve the younger.
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God
Appears to Isaac |
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In
these days there is a famine in the land and
Isaac goes down to Abimelech, king of the
Philistines in Gerar. The LORD appears to Isaac
and tells him not to go down to but continue to
camp wherever in this land. The LORD tells Isaac
to stay in this land, and that He will be with
him and bless him. The LORD promises to give
Isaac and his descendants all these lands, in
fulfillment of the oath that He swore to his
father Abraham.
The LORD then tells Isaac that |
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He will make his descendants as numerous as
the stars in the sky - all these because Abraham
obeyed the LORD, keeping His commandments,
ordinances, and instructions.
So Isaac settles in Gerar where the men ask
questions about his wife. Isaac tells them that
she is his sister for fear of being killed on
account of Rebekah who is very beautiful. But
later, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, sees
Isaac fondling his wife Rebekah.
Abimelech then calls for Isaac and reprimands
for lying to him. Abimelech then warns all his
men that anyone who molests Isaac or his wife
shall be put to death. |
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Isaac sows a crop in that
region and reaps a hundredfold the same year.
Since the LORD blessed him, he becomes richer
and richer all the time, until he is very
wealthy indeed, acquiring flocks and herds, and
many work animals, that the Philistines become
envious of him. They fill with dirt all the
wells that his father's servants had dug back in
the days of his father Abraham.
Because of the continuing conflicts Abimelech
tells Isaac to leave them. Isaac leaves and
makes the Wadi Gerar his regular campsite. Isaac
reopens the wells which his father's servants
had dug back in the days of his father Abraham
and which the Philistines had filled up after
Abraham's death. |
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But when Isaac's servants
dig in the wadi and reach spring water in
their well, the shepherds of Gerar quarrel
with Isaac's servants, and take the well. When
they dig another well and reach water they
quarrel over that one, too. So Isaac moves
from there and digs still another well but
over this one they do not quarrel.
From there Isaac goes up to Beer-sheba. That
same night the LORD appears to him and repeats
His promise to bless him and multiply his
descendants for the sake of His servant
Abraham.
So he builds an altar there and invokes the
LORD by name. After he pitches his tent there,
his servants begin to dig a well nearby.
Abimelech has meanwhile come to him from Gerar,
accompanied by Ahuzzath, his councilor, and
Phicol, the general of his army.
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Isaac asks them why he comes to him after
driving him away. They answer that they
are convinced that the LORD is with him,
so they propose to make a pact of peace
with Isaac. Isaac then makes a feast for
them. Early the next morning they exchange
oaths. Then Isaac bids them farewell, and
they depart from him in peace.
That same day Isaac's servants tells Isaac
that the well they had been digging reach
water!
At this time begins the story of the life
of Jacob, whom through a ruse usurps the
birthright of his older brother Esau and
obtains the blessings of his father Isaac.
Because of this Esau swears to kill Jacob
when his father Isaac dies. |
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When Rebekah hears of
this, she sends Jacob to the house her brother
Laban by interceding with Isaac to not allow
Jacob to marry a Canaanite woman. Isaac
therefore orders Jacob to choose a wife from
among the daughters of his uncle Laban.
Isaac dies when he is one
hundred and eighty years. After a full life,
he dies as an old man and is taken to his
kinsmen. His sons Esau and Jacob bury him.
Jacob and Esau made peace with each other. |
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For
other towering figures from the Old Testament,
please go
to this link. |
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Learn
more and read the Old Testament. |
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Preaching from the Old Testament
by Elizabeth Achtemeier (Author) Reader
Review:
The author of these
thirty-two short chapters begins and ends
with the assumption that problems we
experience with the Old Testament are our
problem, not the Bible's. This
subordinating of the Bible reader to the
well-weathered book he holds in his hand
opens doors, not to forced harmonisations
of problematic passages, but to fresh
reappraisal of difficult texts on their
own terms. -
David A. Baer |
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The Navarre Bible: Pentateuch (The Navarre Bible: Old Testament)
This volume helps you make the first five
books of the Old Testament a vital part of
your spiritual reading and practical
growth in the Christian life. It contains
the full English and Latin texts of these
books, along with extensive and faithfully
Catholic commentaries. Like other volumes
in the world-renowned Navarre Bible
series, these commentaries draw on Church
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documents, the exegesis of Fathers and Doctors
of the Church, and the works of contemporary
spiritual writers — particularly St. Josemaría
Escrivá, who initiated the Navarre Bible
project. |
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The Sunday Readings |
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March
25, 2007: The Fifth Sunday of Lent |
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First Reading From
the Book of Isaiah: |
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Is 43:16-21 |
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Thus says the LORD,
who opens a way in the sea and a path in the
mighty waters,
who leads out chariots and horsemen, a powerful
army,
till they lie prostrate together, never to rise,
snuffed out and quenched like a wick.
Remember not the events of the past, the things of
long ago consider not;
see, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland,
rivers.
Wild beasts honor me, jackals and ostriches, for I
put water in the desert
and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people
to drink, the people whom I formed for myself,
that they might announce my praise. |
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Responsorial From the Book of
Psalms: |
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Ps
126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 |
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R. The Lord has done great things for us;
we are filled with joy.
When the LORD brought back the captives of
Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us;
we are filled with joy.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done great things for us;
we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us;
we are filled with joy.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done great things for us;
we are filled with joy. |
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Second Reading From
the Letter to the Philippians: |
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Phil
3:8-14 |
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Brothers and sisters:
I consider everything as a loss because of the
supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
For
his sake I have accepted the loss of all things
and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may
gain Christ and be found in him, not having any
righteousness of my own based on the law but that
which comes through faith in Christ, the
righteousness from God, depending on faith to know
him and the power of his resurrection and the
sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to
his death, if somehow I may attain the
resurrection from the dead.
It is not that I have already taken hold of it or
have already attained perfect maturity, but I
continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it,
since I have indeed been taken possession of by
Christ Jesus.
Brothers and sisters, I for my part do not
consider myself to have taken possession.
Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but
straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue
my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s
upward calling, in Christ Jesus. |
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From the
Gospel of John:
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Jn
8:1-11 |
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Jesus
went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the
temple area, and all the people started coming to
him, and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery and made her stand
in the middle.
They said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught
in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the
law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So
what do you say?"
They said this to test him, so that they could
have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground
with his finger.
But when they continued asking him, he
straightened up and said to them,
"Let the one among you who is without sin be the
first to throw a stone at her."
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in
response, they went away one by one, beginning
with the elders. So he was left alone with the
woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
"Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
She replied, "No one, sir."
Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go,
and from now on do not sin any more." |
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Notes: |
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Today's Gospel
continues in the theme of repentance and
forgiveness, and second chances. |
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References |
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The Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday, Cycle C. (Bestseller! the Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday) by
John J. Pilch (Author)
Reader
Review: The book by Pilch provides
those who not only fill the pulpits across
this country but also all interested in
the cultural world in which Jesus lived
with a lot of pertinent information that
sheds light on a lot of areas that have
been "muddled" in the past. Yes, I highly
recommend this book. - James Mauldin |
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The Navarre Bible: Pentateuch (The Navarre Bible: Old Testament)
This volume helps you make the first five
books of the Old Testament a vital part of
your spiritual reading and practical
growth in the Christian life. It contains
the full English and Latin texts of these
books, along with extensive and faithfully
Catholic commentaries.
Like other volumes in the world-renowned
Navarre Bible series, these commentaries
draw on Church |
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documents, the exegesis of Fathers and Doctors
of the Church, and the works of contemporary
spiritual writers — particularly St. Josemaría
Escrivá, who initiated the Navarre Bible
project. |
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Coming Soon! |
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Children In Church |
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(Submitted through Daisy G.) |
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3-year-old Reese:
"Our Father, Who does art in heaven,
Harold is His name.
Amen."
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A four-year-old prayed,
"And forgive us our trash baskets as we
forgive those who put trash in our baskets."
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A little boy was overheard praying:
"Lord, if you can't make me a better boy,
don't worry about it.
I'm having a real good time like I am."
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After the christening of his baby brother in
church, Jason sobbed all the way home in the
back seat of the car.
His father asked him three times what was
wrong.
Finally, the boy replied, "That preacher said
he wanted us brought up in a Christian home,
and I wanted to stay with you guys."
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A Sunday school teacher asked her children as
they were on the way to church service, "And
why is it necessary to be quiet in church?"
One bright little girl replied, "Because
people are sleeping."
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A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons,
Kevin 5, and Ryan 3. The boys began to argue
over who would get the first pancake.
Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral
lesson.
"If Jesus were sitting here, He would say,
'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can
wait.'
Kevin turned to his younger brother and said,
"Ryan, you be Jesus!"
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A father was at the beach with his children
when the four-year-old son ran up to him,
grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore
where a seagull lay dead in the sand.
"Daddy, what happened to him?" the son asked.
"He died and went to Heaven," the Dad replied.
The boy thought a moment and then said, "Did
God throw him back down?"
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A wife invited some people to dinner.
At the table, she turned to their six-year-old
daughter and said, "Would you like to say the
blessing?"
"I wouldn't know what to say," the girl
replied.
"Just say what you hear Mommy say," the wife
answered.
The daughter bowed her head and said,
"Lord, why on earth did I invite all these
people to dinner?"
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Comments and
Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If
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use the form in this link.
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