Genesis 24-26

Selected Lectio Reading:
Gen 25:19-23


Meditatio/Reflection:

There are a couple of thoughts which spring to mind as I try to place myself in this passage.  The first is that of many friends, family members, etc. who sought to conceive and either couldn't or only did so after significant difficulty.  As Isaac prayed for Rebekah, I know that many prayers were offered up for these couples.  Sometimes we saw answers to those prayers in the manner of God answering Isaac's prayers.  Other times, our friends and family members continued in their struggle to conceive.  I often hear the question, "Why does God answer some people's prayers, but not others?"  There are so many possible answers to this question, and I think the right one is probably couched in mystery, but when I ask this of myself, I often wonder if we're actually looking for God's will in our prayers.  I'm not saying that it is necessarily contrary to God's will for some of these families to conceive, but I wonder if God is trying to illicit a greater trust, a greater love from those who remain in their "barrenness" by allowing them to stay there.  It sounds counter-intuitive, but I think there's a significant truth in that unique ability of humanity to continue to love through suffering.  That idea of compassion, to suffer with someone, brought the Incarnation, brought Christ to us.  How great can we experience God's love in those moments of suffering through the prayers which open us to it!

The second thought has to do with sibling rivalry, which I've experienced some in the past, but I feel as if my brothers and I have a pretty solid relationship.  We're not perfect by any means, but much of what separated us in our early years faded most considerably when we were separated by war.  My brothers all served in the military while I was in high school and college.  When they left, I think we found that whatever issues divided us were no longer important and our bond as brothers, in the love of God, can get us through just about anything.  I'm thankful and proud to call my brothers my best friends.

Oratio/Thanksgiving:

Thank you, Lord, for your provisions in times of suffering and for giving me brothers whom I love dearly.

Oratio/Prayer Intentions:

Lord, please comfort those who struggle with infertility and bless them with your love and presence.  Please offer your mantle of protection to all those still serving in the military or in other service-oriented capacities.

Mr. Crane's Song of the Day:

The Hobbit: Misty Mountains

Saint Quote of the Day:

"God sends us friends to be our firm support in the whirlpool of struggle.  In the company of friends we find strength to attain our sublime ideal."
      - St. Maximilian Kolbe

Genesis 16-23

Selected Lectio Reading:
Gen 18:9-15


Meditatio/Reflection:

"Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?" (v. 14)  This question is highlighted by the placement of the descriptors of Abraham and Sarah as "old, advanced in age" etc. in the center of this episode.  Nothing natural could have provided Abraham and Sarah a son.  How many times did God promise that Abraham would have descendants, heirs, a son, etc.?  I can understand impatience with certain promises, especially those which have so much potential consequence.  I can understand seeing how I could possibly try to see how I could fulfill those promises on my own.  And I an understand how something could seem so impossible that all I could do is laugh in disbelief.

And yet, nothing is too wonderful for the Lord.  Abraham and Sarah, in their old age, conceived and had a son, Isaac.  Isaac's own name, to laugh, has a double meaning: first to remind Abraham and Sarah (and all of us) of God's enduring faithfulness to his promises even when we doubt, and second, to show how God can turn our doubt to faith and our suffering to joy.

How little we take advantage of this.  I was once told that we should ask God for big things, miracles, blessings, etc., because then we show God that we acknowledge his greatness, that nothing is too wonderful for him.  We acknowledge that we're choosing to trust in his greatness.  And we put ourselves before his generosity.  Could Abraham and Sarah avoided some of the pain and hardship they endured when they tried to force God's promises without him if they had only asked him for that miracle?  How much pain and suffering could I avoid if I just turned to God and sought his grace and blessing?

Oratio/Thanksgiving:

Thank you, Lord, for those times you proved yourself faithful to me, even when I doubted your greatness.  Thank you for the gifts you've used to show your love, provision, and care for me, especially my wife and kids.

Oratio/Prayer Intentions:

Lord, help me to give you glory by asking you for big things.  Help me have confidence in your generosity.  In practice of this, please heal Ashley's back and provide a healthy labor and delivery for many of our friends who are due within the coming weeks.

Mr. Crane's Song of the Day:

Carbon Leaf: What about Everything?

Saint Quote of the Day:

"You pay God a great compliment by asking great things of him."
      -St. Teresa of Avila

Genesis 12-15

Selected Lectio Reading:
Gen 15:12-16


Meditatio/Reflection:

This must have been a terrifying yet oddly comforting experience for Abram.  He encountered a "deep and terrifying darkness" in his sleep.  Ever since I was little, I have had experiences of extreme darkness as I was falling asleep.  In those moments, I dread that passage from consciousness to sleep.   Sometimes, I simply lose the ability to stay awake and fall asleep.  Recently, I've tried to more consciously choose to seek God in the moment, ask for his reassurance, breathe deeply, and actively seek sleep despite the looming darkness.

And it's that promise of God's that at some point, the darkness will end and that ultimately, we need not fear it, which offers comfort and allows me to peacefully drift to sleep.  In this passage, there is the a threefold repetition of the warning regarding Abram's descendants: "shall be aliens...shall be slaves...shall be oppressed" (v. 13).  To think that my kids or theirs will have to undergo such hardship is difficult for me to comprehend or accept.  I want to protect them, keep them safe from such problems.  But if I step back and look at our society today, it's not difficult to imagine that my own kids will have much to endure in their lives.

So what can I do?  How can I prepare them to engage their futures with hope instead of fear and trembling?  Well, we see here that God immediately follows up his warning with his promise: "bring judgment on the nation that they serve...they shall come out with great possessions...you shall go to your ancestors in peace...you shall be buried in a good old age...they shall come back here" (v. 14-16).  Even in those times of "deep and terrifying darkness," God can and will be there to see us through.  I hope and pray that I can impart this hope to my kids.

As an aside, I wonder if the fivefold promise in v. 14-16 has any correlation to the establishment of the Law of Moses (as five often symbolizes the Torah/Law).  Something to ponder...

Oratio/Thanksgiving:

Lord, thank you for the hope that you offered here to Abram to comfort any worry that he may have about the future.  Thank you for offering me that hope as well.

Oratio/Prayer Intentions:

Lord, may I never forget the hope that you offer me, especially when I'm facing those dark moments right before I drift to sleep.  Bless my kids with the knowledge that you are always with them.

Mr. Crane's Song of the Day:

Chris Tomlin: Whom Shall I Fear (The God of Angel Armies)

Saint Quote of the Day:

"He that is kind is free, though he is a slave; he that is evil is a slave, though he be a king."
      -St. Augustine

Genesis 4-11

Selected Lectio Reading:
Gen 4:1-7


Meditatio/Reflection:

The image that sticks out to me the most as I read through this passage was "Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell" (v. 5).  While I can't number the times I feel like I've gone through a similar experience of disappointment and what might be called depression afterward, I know that I have.  And I wouldn't necessarily say that it was a depression born of sadness, but rather of anger.  Most often that anger was directed at myself.  Often when I fell into one temptation or another, or like Cain, I didn't offer my best effort (sacrifice), either to God or anyone around me, I would turn around and accuse myself of being weak or unable to actually succeed.

It wasn't until I got into college when I heard that one of Satan's titles is "Accuser."  What this means is that Satan first tries to trip us up by tempting us, and then when we fall, he will go on to tell us that we are worthless because we fell.  So these attacks on myself were actually temptations themselves from Satan.  Now, don't get me wrong, in these situations, like Cain, I was clearly in the wrong by not offering the best of myself, and the guilt and resentment I felt should have inspired me to greater action, as God says to Cain, "If you do well, will you not be accepted?" (v. 7).

What I needed to realize, and still do, is that I need God's help, grace, and guidance to do well.  I should turn to God in these times of failure and ask him for this so that I may do well and that I may master the sin that is lurking at the door (v. 7).

Oratio/Thanksgiving:

Thank you, Lord, for the times when I've been able to turn to you after I've fallen into the temptation of offering less than the best of myself to you, my family, my friends, or my work.  Thank you for your mercy in helping me back up and seeing that with your help, I can do well and be accepted.

Oratio/Prayer Intentions:

Lord, please bless my efforts to offer the best of myself to you and my family especially this day.  Help me to see my failures as opportunities to seek to grow in your graces.

Mr. Crane's Song of the Day:

The High Kings: The Parting Glass

Saint Quote of the Day:

"He loves, He hopes, He waits.  Our Lord prefers to wait Himself for the sinner for years rather than keeping us waiting for an instant."
      -St. Maria Goretti

Genesis 3

Selected Lectio Reading:
Gen 3: 1-7


Meditatio/Reflection:

As I read through this selection from the beginning of this tragic episode from Eden, I was constantly struck by the idea that the Man and Woman acted as if they could not rely on God.  First we have the serpent twisting God's words as he spoke to the Woman: "Did God say, 'You shall not eat from any tree in the garden?'" (Gen 3:1).  While much of her response was true, she added a prohibition for herself of not even touching the fruit of the tree.  I relate to this quite frequently.  As I am able to recognize how I am tempted (by the grace of God), I will often add these extra barriers so that I don't even come close to being tempted.

For example, I used to spend an inordinate amount of time on Facebook, such that I often felt like I was neglecting my family.  Now Facebook is not an evil thing which must be avoided at all costs, but I saw that I was not using it temperately.  So to avoid getting sucked into the black hole of social media, I decided to delete the app from my phone.  At first it wasn't easy, because I had trained myself to go to Facebook if I was idle.  Now it's not so much a temptation any more.

In light of this, I ask myself what would happen if I relied on God more and these extra barriers less?  What if I sought his grace instead of trying to constantly shield myself and protect myself?  Because I know all too well, that like the Woman, I am not beyond going around, over, or through those barriers to reach what I might find "good for food...a delight to the eyes...to be desired to make one wise" (Gen 1:6).

Oratio/Thanksgiving:

Lord, thank you for bringing me through so many of the temptations that I face on a daily basis.  I know that it is by your grace, and not my strength, that I am able to resist them.

Oratio/Prayer Intentions:

Lord, may I never fail to turn to you for your help and grace in moments or periods of temptation.  Please bless those whose welfare I am responsible for and may I be the man, husband, father, son, brother, friend, teacher, etc. that I am called to be for their sake.

Mr. Crane's Song of the Day:

Audrey Assad: Fortunate Fall

Saint Quote of the Day: