Scripture Commentary for February 25th (Year B)

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SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT

FIRST READING

Genesis 17: 1-7, 15-16

In the Abram/Abraham story that precedes our reading, God has once blessed Abram, twice promised to make him the father of nations, and three times promised to give him the land of Canaan.  At one point he puts Abram in a trance from which he sees God performing an ancient ritual of loyalty, a burning torch representing his presence (15: 7-17).  These repetitions are in part explained by the fact that the accounts were written by three authors.  Our reading consists of two short passages lifted out of the most elaborate of these promises and covenants (17: 1-27).  The source was a hypothetical document called the Priestly Code.  God promises protection, land, and hosts of offspring.  To facilitate the offspring he promises a great miracle: ninety year old Sarai shall bear a son.  In exchange, he asks nothing except that Abraham and all men among his kin and followers be circumcised:  “So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant: (17: 13).  In contrast to the laws given by God through Moses, Abraham’s God asks nothing by way of moral behavior.  (True, in 17: 1)  God expects Abram to walk before him” blameless,” but that can hardly be a moral injunction.  Look at 12: 10 = 13: 2, where blessed Abram makes himself rich by pimping out his wife to Pharaoh.)  So Abram circumcises all of the men loyal to him and has himself circumcised.  To signify this new bond to divinity, God changes the names Sarai and Abram to Sarah and Abraham.

 

SECOND READING

Romans 4: 13-25

 

Paul’s interpretation of Abraham’s relationship to God as one of faith is, in my view, sound.  On the human side of the covenant with Abraham, the wordless connection between God and humankind that is effected by circumcision could certainly be called faith.  Paul, however, goes too far in saying “no distrust made him [Abraham] waver concerning the promise of God.”  If you look at 17: 17, you will see that Abraham did waver:  he laughed at the idea that a child could be born to a hundred-year-old man and a ninety-year-old woman.

 

© Arthur H. Cash

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