“Therefore is it of faith, that according to grace the promise might be firm to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (As it is written: ‘I have made thee a father of many nations,’) before God, whom he believed, who quickeneth the dead; and calleth those things that are not, as those that are. Who against hope believed in hope; that he might be made the father of many nations, according to that which was said to him: ‘So shall thy seed be.’ And he was not weak in faith; netiher did he consider his own body now dead, whereas he was almost an hundred years old, nor the dead womb of Sara.”
Because the actions of man are fallible, and all the justices therein have some semblance of stain upon them: “I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee” (Psalm 72:23); “Without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5), justice must be built upon solid rock, which is Christ: “For other foundation no man can lay, but that which is laid; which is Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 3:11), that the covenant of love may be built on the relationship extended by the Father through Jesus, rather than upon any merits or actions of the human person. This gift of grace, the reaching out of the hand of God to Abraham, enacted both a physical fatherhood of Abraham: “We are the seed of Abraham” (John 8:33) which is that of the law, as well as spiritual children: “Know ye therefore, that they who are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7). Because Abraham received the open embrace of God and His goodness, he became the example of faith for all that believe, not just those of bodily descent that keep the law: “And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart: and thou shalt tell them to thy children” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). His trust in God yields a mighty spiritual fatherhood, making him the father of all who believe, and so does a heart that trusts in God’s goodness at all times yield the fruit of love, which are the souls of others: “In this is my Father glorified; that you bring forth very much fruit, and become my disciples” (John 15:8); “Behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the fruit of the womb” (Psalm 126:3), with the greatness of one’s love, expressed by faith and trust, bringing about a greater harvest: “The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few” (Matthew 9:37), thus Abraham, by his great trust, became a father of many nations: “Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and there was not found the like to him in glory, who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him” (Ecclesiasticus 44:20). He believed with certainty the God that sees all things, trusting in the wisdom of a knowing, loving parent rather than the limited perspective of a man. In this is a beautiful lesson, Theophila, because the parents have much greater insight into what the children need than the children do themselves and carry with them an abundance of wisdom. Now, if this is true of earthly parents with earthly wisdom, how much more so the heavenly Father who is the source of all wisdom? “All wisdom is from the Lord God, and hath been always with him, and is before all time” (Ecclesiasticus 1:1). This same God is also sublime in might, able to “quicken the dead,” which both pertains to the resurrections seen in Scripture: “He said: ‘Young man, I say to thee, arise.’ And that was dead, sat up, and begun to speak” (Luke 7:14-15) as well as to those dead in sin: “And you, when you were dead in your offences, and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) and calls those who are not those who are. This pertains firstly to the Gentiles, who were not God’s children, “Israel is my son, my firstborn” (Exodus 4:22), but the gift of His love was extended to them: “Thou, being a wild olive, art ingrafted in them, and art made partaker of the root, and of the fatness of the olive tree” (Romans 11:17). This pertains to you and your love, Theophila, because you who once did not know the love of God, have been given it abundantly, you were not a lover and then became one, “And passing by thee, I saw that thou wast trodden under foot in thy own blood” (Ezechiel 16:6), you were not a child and were brought in: “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called, and should be the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). Now, Abraham’s act of faith was against all the circumstances around him, as he was great in age: “Shall a son, thinkest thou, be born to him that is a hundred years old? And shall Sara that is ninety years old bring forth?” (Genesis 17:17). Against hope he believed in hope, because it was told him, and so too, when divine light illumines your imperfections and seeming unloveableness is it important to always believe in love, to walk in faith that you are perfectly, beautifully loved, no matter your failures and faults. Despite what nature and humanity cried out, Abraham instead walked by the divine promises, so too are the words of Scripture and the promises thereof enough, even when no devotion or feeling can be drawn up: “Thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, and called thee by thy name: thou art mine… Thou becamest honourable in my eyes, thou art glorious: I have loved thee, and I will give men for thee, and people for thy life” (Isaias 43:1, 4); “As the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love” (John 15:9). Abraham was promised beautiful, sparkling children like the stars: “I will bless thee, and I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven” (Genesis 22:17), because those who love shine like stars in the darkness of a world that so needs love: “They that are learned shall shine as the brightness of the firmament: and they that instruct many to justice, as stars for all eternity” (Daniel 12:3). Abraham by resolute, strong faith did not waver in his trust of God: “Do manfully, and let your heart be strengthened, all ye that hope in the Lord” (Psalm 30:25), showing the disposition when temptations against God’s love and goodness arise: “Why are you fearful? Have you not faith yet?” (Mark 4:40). Therefore, when devotion is dry, arid, and seemingly dead and barren, hold fast to the faith that you love and are loved, and this will be enough.