Today our Church put in front of us the following readings:

 

*The first reading from Genesis 16: 1-16 Hagar and the birth of Ishmael.

Sarai, the wife of Abram, is old and barren. Abram and Sarai submit to human reason. Abram submitted to Sarai's desire and her longing for motherhood, just as she responded to her husband's hope for the offspring that extends his memory. But God does not submit to their feelings. And he is not in a hurry like them to fulfill his promise. God has his own time for everything. Jesus called this particular time his "hour." And when the time that God set comes, Abram and Sarai will have their son who planted them. They should not have been in a hurry to rely on their human reason. They had to trust God more. Abram had not yet surrendered to God like a “son.” God wants Abram, and his people after him, to be his "son" and behave like that. And when God adopts Abram and his wife as his “children,” he gives them new names, “Abraham and Sarah,” like any father who calls his child. Abraham accepts the covenant that God offered him and seals his body with the mark referred to by “circumcision,” then at that time will the promise be fulfilled. Indeed, Sarah will give birth to a child, who is ninety years old, and will call him Isaac.

 

*The second reading from the Letter to Romans 12: 1--21 The new life in Christ.

Paul, in the previous chapters, immersed himself in matters of faith and doctrine. He turned his attention to Christian literature. He summarized his thought and the faith principle of morality, namely, "the embodiment of the life of Christ" in our behavior. Jesus himself submitted to the will of God in everything, even in his crucifixion: “Do not be my will, but yours.” The ethics of a Christian is based on imitating Jesus in everything. And he said it to the Philippians: “Create according to the morals of Christ” (Phil 2: 5). This is what Christ is new to, that we change our ways of thinking, seeing, and measuring everything with God's eyes and will. Accordingly, Paul stresses and enumerates the foundations of good morals: The Christian should not exaggerate himself. And he does not stand above others. For this to be so quickly done, Paul reminded of Christ's essential commandment: love. It is emphasized that Be "honest." Love is complete with the virtues of diligence, hope, patience, and service, all with prayer. Avoid evil and stick to good. This requires peace of all people and forgiveness of the offenders, that is not to take revenge, meet wrong and overcome it by doing good.

 

*Third reading of John (7: 37-52 )The opinion about Jesus is divided, and John (8: 12-20) Jesus is the light of the world.

God is the truth, and he is judged, and he is the light that shines for all people. Jesus is the light of the world. Not only because he is God but also because, as the Son of man, he does not randomly follow the human race. Because, unlike the people of the world, he seeks and pursues the truth, and the truth is God's will. Because he preaches and practices love towards all people, and love is the life of God and the eternity of man. And because he does not offend anyone but instead forgives those who offend him, so God behaves as he is merciful and affectionate. This is how the sun rises and sets every day, sows good, and does not harm in any way. This is the light that shines, and this is why Jesus is the model of correct constructive behavior because he acted like this, and no one could accuse him of sin, while he accused those who claimed righteousness and holiness and none of them could object to it.