Ha!

 

The readings today (Gen 17:5) noted that God began a new covenant with Abram, telling hm that he shall be “the father of a multitude of nations.  No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham.”  God knows how much work it is to be a good father, so perhaps that is why He added a “HA” to Abram’s name, a little pun to the “gift” He had given Abram.  A father of nations ---- good grief!!

There are numerous people to whom God gave huge tasks in Scripture, tasks which changed the whole purpose of their lives, and so He gave them new names.  Abram became Abraham, Simon became Peter, and then Saul became Paul, and there were others.  When Catholics of today receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, they are anointed with oil, just as priests are, and they get an added name.  Not a replacement name. for with the Sacrament they are not given a totally new purpose for their lives, but they are given an added name for the added purpose they commit to when they receive the graces of Confirmation.  After Confirmation, they are called to evangelize, to bear witness in the name of Jesus, and to love their neighbor as He did.

The Jewish people deeply appreciated the value of their ancestors, and memorized the names of many generations back.  They recognized the value of their fathers; they made the Jewish people who they were.  There was a recognized unity, family, among generations.  Abraham believed nations of people would grow from his family.  And what of us today?

Why do we exist?  For ourselves alone?  Do we think of what our ancestors went through for us, and like the father Abraham, think of how much they endured for love of us?  Do we think only of ourselves?  And if we were Confirmed, do we bear witness to the name of Jesus, the faith of our fathers?  Or has all that has gone on before us, all our ancestors, all their beliefs, all their reasons for living, ended with us?  Why are we living?

Many in our culture, in our Church, think all will be great if we have all we want.  But all will come to an end if we don’t pass on love to future generations.  We were created here by a Father God; we were created to love others and to pass on that love.  Without love, there will be no life anymore, no future.  And sadly, many actually work towards that end, thinking it is what they want, so it must be a good thing.

HA!

I wonder who is laughing now, at all our selfish egos, at we who are unable or unwilling to love, forgetting all the sacrifices of all those who went before us.  Forgetting all those who lived for us.  Forgetting Him who died for us.  Somehow, I don’t think it is God who is laughing this time.