Have you ever felt abandoned by your father? Have you ever felt you didn’t hold a place of importance in your family? Have you ever thought of yourself as the “black sheep”, the unwanted child? If so, then you could probably sit down with Ishmael and have a rather lively conversation. In my reflections I often seek to shed light on this all too common theme that runs through all of humanity, that of family exclusion. Even Abraham, the father of Judaism, Christianity and Islam dealt with this deep pain. And yet, God, our heavenly father, was close to Abraham through it all – and God was close to both of his sons.
Our reading this week from Genesis continues with the story of Abraham and his descendants. However, the first part of the reading got me scratching my head. “Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, … There you shall offer him up as a burnt offering…” Whoa!!!!! Your only son??? Can we say Ishmael? Then, take your beloved son and offer him as a burnt offering???? I might have peaced out right then and there! Well, no “might” about it – I’m not offering my children as a sacrifice – just saying. Good thing I’m not called to be the father of the three main world religions, I would definitely fail.
In yesterday’s first reading (Genesis 21:5,8-20A) we saw that Abraham was greatly distressed at the thought of Ishmael being driving out of his home. His wife Sarah didn’t want her son, Isaac, to have to share in his inheritance as first born to Abraham, so away with Ishmael and his mother. “… so she demanded of Abraham: Drive out that slave and her son!” (Genesis 21:10). Abraham in turn sent Hagar and their teenage son, Ishmael, away with some bread and a skin of water and, undoubtedly, a heavy heart.
However, God sought to comfort Abraham, He spoke to Abraham and told him not to distress. God promised Abraham that he would make a great nation of Ishmael, since he too is Abraham’s son. Eventually God’s messenger would speak to Hagar and tell her that God had heard the boy’s cry and his plight. “God was with the boy as he grew up.” (Genesis 21:20a) Yes, even though Ishmael by all outward appearances was the black sheep, the outcast, unwanted, a throw away, he was watched over and taken care of by God himself. Even when we feel we have no place in our family we can be assured that we, like Ishmael, are offered our righteous place in God’s family as his beloved sons and daughters.
Moving on to today’s first reading (Genesis 22:1b-19) we witness God putting Abraham to the ultimate test. Abraham was asked to surrender the ultimate sacrifice – the life of his beloved son Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham’s faith and love in God was so strong that he was willing to offer the unthinkable. Of course we know that God intervened and Isaac’s life was spared.
It was this profound love for God, held so dearly in Abraham’s heart, that gave Abraham the privilege to be the father of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. God needed to know if Abraham would indeed put the one true God above all other gods. Abraham would pass on this inheritance of deep abiding love for God to the generations that follow. Eventually, our Lord Jesus Christ, God himself, would come forth from his lineage.
Abraham’s deep love for the father must have held great power over the death that sin causes. After all, it was this deep love that lead Abraham to cast out Hagar and Ishmael and tie Isaac atop the wood on the altar. A good father passes on good spiritual gifts to his children and Abraham, being chosen by God to be the father of many nations because he loved God so much, must have passed on significant blessings.
Since sin was then, as it is today, part of the fabric of our planet God had to come into the world as Jesus to overcome the pain sin wages against his children. Just as Jesus told the paralytic in today’s Gospel that his sins are forgiven, our sins too are forgiven if we but only seek him and ask in faith. (Let’s put Reconciliation on our schedule ASAP my friends!) Just as the paralytic walked, we too can walk and be free of the pain sin has waged against us, even when that sin is generational sin that has been passed down to us. Even when that sin leads to exclusion in our family.
So if you feel abandoned by your family, if you feel like the black sheep, remember you are God’s beloved child and he wishes to bless you with the inheritance you so richly deserve as his child. However, like Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael we will undoubtedly experience heartache and pain in this lifetime. Remember, God is close to the brokenhearted, so when you feel isolated and alone call on him, he will be there to hold you in his loving arms and guide you towards the truth that will lead you back home.
Live Healthy, Live Happy, Live Wholly, LIVE!
Jesus – I love you!
