Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
(Genesis 15:1-12.17-18; Matthew 7:15-20)
In order to stem the tide of divorce in the late
twentieth century, some American couples entered “covenant marriages.” The two parties agreed to counseling before
marriage and to limited grounds for divorce once married. The arrangement takes its name from the type
of relationship between Abram and the Lord witnessed in the first reading
today.
At the basis of the relationship is Abram’s faith in God
which was “credited to him as an act of righteousness.” As long as Abram maintains that faith, he can
be assured of the Lord’s assistance.
God, of course, has not failed in giving Abram innumerable descendants. Today they include not only the millions of
Jews throughout the world, but the billions of Christians and Muslims as well.
We have entered into a new covenant with God through
Jesus Christ. By being baptized in his
name we become heirs to the promise of his resurrection from the dead. But it is not an imperishable legacy in the sense that we too must keep faith in
him.
