杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

At the centre of 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� catechesis on prayer at his General Audience on Wednesday was the figure of Abraham.

The 杏MAP导航 explained that with this 鈥渇ather in faith鈥�, we see a new way of relating to God.

Abraham, recounted 杏MAP导航 Francis, hears a voice that resonates in his life. It鈥檚 the 鈥渧oice that encourages him to uproot himself from his homeland, from the roots of his family,  to move towards a new, different future.鈥�

Abraham鈥檚 trust in God

The Pontiff underlined that Abraham does this on the basis of trust and the promise 鈥渢hat his lineage will be as numerous as the stars that dot the sky.鈥�

With this trust, said the 杏MAP导航, comes a new way of conceiving our relationship with God. 鈥淚t is for this reason that the patriarch Abraham is present in the great Jewish, Christian and Islamic spiritual traditions as the perfect man of God, capable of submitting to Him, even when His will is difficult, if not even incomprehensible.鈥�

From that point on, noted 杏MAP导航 Francis, the life of believers has been seen in terms of vocation, a personal call to live one鈥檚 life in fulfillment of God鈥檚 promises.

God as companion and guide

During his catechesis, the 杏MAP导航 described how, in the Book of Genesis, we see Abraham鈥檚 obedience to the word marks a radically new step in the religious development of man. 鈥淕od is no longer seen only in cosmic phenomena, as a distant God who can inspire terror."

The God of Abraham, he pointed out, becomes the God who guides our steps, who does not abandon us, and is the companion of our adventures.

Quoting from the Catechism, the 杏MAP导航 also stressed that "Abraham's prayer is expressed first by deeds: a man of silence, he constructs an altar to the Lord at each stage of his journey."

Obedience and faith

鈥�Thus Abraham becomes familiar with God, capable of arguing with Him, but always faithful鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis.

He continued by saying that Abraham goes wherever God leads him, even to the ultimate test of being asked to sacrifice his own son, Isaac.

The 杏MAP导航 emphasized that 鈥淕od himself will stop Abraham's hand ready to strike because he has seen his total obedience.鈥�

Concluding his catechesis, the 杏MAP导航 said that it is healthy to sometimes get "angry" with God because it is a form of prayer. Only a son or daughter is capable of arguing with a father and making up with him again.

"Let us learn from Abraham to pray with faith: listening, walking, engaging in dialogue to the point of argument, but always willing to accept God's word and to put it into practice."