This Sunday's sermon is offered by The Most Rev. Theresa Margaret (Margo) Wilson, Bishop of the Diocese of Colorado. Bishop Wilson is also the founder and Director of the Benedictine Order of St. Michael the Archangel and Rector of Good Shepherd of the Hills Church in Pueblo.
GO FOR YOURSELF
The Old Testament reading for this Sunday, February 17, 2008, is taken from Genesis, chapter 12, and verses 1-4a. I will quote these verses from The Chumash, the Jewish Torah.
“Hashem said to Abram, ‘Go for yourself from your land, from your relatives, and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation: I will bless you, and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you.’ So Abram went as Hashem had spoken to him, and Lot went with him.”
It is interesting to note that God (Hashem) seemed to be making a superfluous statement in saying to Abram, “Go for yourself.” In the literal sense of the Hebrew language here, Hashem is saying to Abram, “Go for your own benefit and for your own good.”
How many times has God called each of us to do something for His kingdom and we even in our obedience to Him and to His call were not aware of our own benefit? Perhaps we simply answer, do what ever it is we have been called to do (sometimes even begrudgingly) and have missed out on the point of how doing His will truly has been to our own benefit and our own good.
When I was a child, I remember distinctly being told many times to do things by my Mother or my Grandparents, and even though I would obey them, I almost never understood how that action could benefit me or as they would say, ‘build my character’.
In obedience then Abram did as God called him to do leaving not only his home country but also his extended family and the home of his father. This was truly an event that did benefit him in so many ways. He and his wife, Sarai, had never been able to have children in his home land. He was neither famous nor blessed even materially in his homeland. However, when he arrived in the land that God had called him to, he was given the blessing of children, material blessings and most important of all he was able to carry out his spiritual mission.
God assured Abram that he would not suffer from the rigors of traveling so far nor losing his belongings nor harming his reputation. When we obey God, neither do we suffer from consequences of disobedience, but we too are blessed in all ways, spiritually, financially and in relationships.
In our obedience to God during this Lenten season, we will find that not only are we blessed beyond measure, but we too will be able to bless others.
“Hashem said to Abram, ‘Go for yourself from your land, from your relatives, and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation: I will bless you, and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you.’ So Abram went as Hashem had spoken to him, and Lot went with him.”
It is interesting to note that God (Hashem) seemed to be making a superfluous statement in saying to Abram, “Go for yourself.” In the literal sense of the Hebrew language here, Hashem is saying to Abram, “Go for your own benefit and for your own good.”
How many times has God called each of us to do something for His kingdom and we even in our obedience to Him and to His call were not aware of our own benefit? Perhaps we simply answer, do what ever it is we have been called to do (sometimes even begrudgingly) and have missed out on the point of how doing His will truly has been to our own benefit and our own good.
When I was a child, I remember distinctly being told many times to do things by my Mother or my Grandparents, and even though I would obey them, I almost never understood how that action could benefit me or as they would say, ‘build my character’.
In obedience then Abram did as God called him to do leaving not only his home country but also his extended family and the home of his father. This was truly an event that did benefit him in so many ways. He and his wife, Sarai, had never been able to have children in his home land. He was neither famous nor blessed even materially in his homeland. However, when he arrived in the land that God had called him to, he was given the blessing of children, material blessings and most important of all he was able to carry out his spiritual mission.
God assured Abram that he would not suffer from the rigors of traveling so far nor losing his belongings nor harming his reputation. When we obey God, neither do we suffer from consequences of disobedience, but we too are blessed in all ways, spiritually, financially and in relationships.
In our obedience to God during this Lenten season, we will find that not only are we blessed beyond measure, but we too will be able to bless others.
