Abraham’s Faith and God’s Covenant Promise- Jun 25 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence

 

Fr. John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Jun 25, 2025, on how Abraham's faith and God's covenant promise, as described in Genesis 15, open the possibility for us, his spiritual descendants, to receive a heavenly reward through fidelity to divine teachings.

Father begins by reflecting on the Gospel, where Jesus warns His disciples to beware of false prophets, interpreting the "fruits of trees" as teachings or doctrines. Good principles, when practiced, yield good fruit, while heretical doctrines cannot (Matthew 7:15-20).

He then focuses on the first reading from Genesis 15:1-18, where God responds to Abraham's actions after rescuing Lot from captivity. Abraham declined a reward from the king of Sodom, trusting God’s promise, "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield, your very great reward" (Genesis 15:1). This promise, Father notes, was understood in the Middle Ages as the beatific vision, where God Himself is the reward (Catechism of the Catholic Church in paragraph 1996). Abraham’s faith, believing God despite his and Sarah’s old age, is counted as righteousness (Genesis 15:6), a point St. Paul highlights, showing justification by faith (Romans 4:3). God’s covenant with Abraham, marked by divided animals, promises land and descendants, with the fire symbolizing judgment for covenant-breakers (Genesis 15:17). St. Augustine interprets the animals as Israel’s history—under the law, sinful, yet reigning—while undivided birds represent spiritual descendants who love God wholly (Catechism of the Catholic Church in paragraph 60). Father concludes that Abraham’s faith makes him our father in faith, urging us to love God with an undivided heart to inherit heaven (Deuteronomy 6:5).

For Further Reading
Genesis 15:1-18 - NAB - God’s covenant with Abram - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/15
Matthew 7:15-20 - NAB - False prophets and good fruit - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/7?15
Romans 4:3 - NAB - Abraham justified by faith - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/4?3
Deuteronomy 6:5 - NAB - Love God with all heart - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/deuteronomy/6?5
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1996 - Grace and justification - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c3a2.htm#1996
Catechism of the Catholic Church #60 - Abraham’s descendants and faith - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s1c2a1.htm#60
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1819 - Faith and hope in God - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a7.htm#1819
New Advent - Abraham - Biblical patriarch’s faith journey - https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01051a.htm

00:00 - Introduction to homily
00:54 - Gospel on good fruit
01:23 - Abraham’s story begins
02:25 - Melchizedek and Abraham’s reward
03:57 - Abraham’s faith and justification
05:06 - Promise of countless descendants
06:26 - God’s covenant with Abraham
08:27 - Spiritual descendants and heaven

Ave Maria!

Mass: Wed 12th Wk of Ord Time - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/062525.cfm
1st: gen 15:1-12, 17-18
Resp: psa 105:1-4, 6-9
Gsp: mat 7:15-20

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1427

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