Trust in the Lord's Promises

Homily for Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Abram was the uncle of Lot and was far older than he. Yet it is Abram to whom God promises to raise up through him a great nation, a great people. Common wisdom would have said that Lot was far more likely to have children, grandchildren, etc. However, just as he had done when he obeyed God’s command to leave his homeland, Abram put his trust in the word of God and believed that God would honor the promise. Although both he and his wife were older, God chose them to be the foundation of his chosen people.

Trusting in the promises of God is the hallmark of Abram’s life. The Christian Scriptures refer to him as a just man of faith. Over and over again, Abram’s faith in God is tested. Yet he always rises to the occasion and passes the many tests that God sends his way. He is such a remarkable character in the Book of Genesis that God favors him by calling him a friend. In fact, Abram, who will later be called Abraham, is the only figure of the Hebrew Scriptures that is accorded this title.

Abram’s trust is by far his greatest character trait. He gives all of us an example. Because of him, we have learned that promises made by God are always fulfilled. This fact becomes the foundation of our faith by which we have come to believe that God will bestow eternal life on us if we simply believe in Jesus. As we continue to read from the Book of Genesis, the tests that God exacts of Abraham will continually become more and more difficult. Yet, Abraham always places his trust in God.

We use Psalm fifteen as our responsorial psalm today. This psalm enumerates ten ways or attributes that characterize the just person. These ten actions, like the ten Commandments, feature both positive and negative actions. There are things that we must do as well as things that we must not do. For instance, we are to walk blamelessly and think the truth in our hearts, but we must not slander our neighbor or charge interest on a loan. These ten actions follow the question posed by the psalmist, “Who may dwell on your holy mountain?” The psalm is also summarized in the very last verse, “Whoever acts like this will never be shaken.”

The Gospel passage which we read today echoes these sentiments when it tells us that we must enter God’s kingdom by the narrow gate. The narrow gate and constricted road lead us to life forever with God. The Eucharist is our foretaste of that life which has been promised for those who place their trust in God.