Saint George Catholic Church | 74 School Street Framingham, MA 01701 | Church Ministries, Events, Questions, Directions...

Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
“God put Abraham to the test.”

Abraham would be arrested for child abuse if he pulled a stunt like this today. He brought his son up a hill and raised a knife to kill him. No parent should do that.

We remember this story not as a model of parenting, but as a symbol of sacrifice. Both Abraham and god serve as models.

Abraham completely trusted God. God promised him a son, and according to the book of Genesis, Abraham’s son Isaac was born after Abraham waited 100 years. Then God asked Abraham to sacrifice this son, his only son, the one whom he loved. Abraham continued to trust God. His trust is what inspires us in times of extreme adversity.

For Christians the story is not only about Abraham’s sacrifice, but about God’s sacrifice. That is why we hear it now, near the beginning of Lent, and again on the eve of Easter.

God led his Son Jesus, his only Son, whom he loved, up a hill, where he was raised high on a cross. In the story of Abraham an angel stopped the killing. In the story of Jesus the killing continues, but angels announce that the One who died has risen.

Written by Paul Turner