The God of Abraham guides my steps and never abandons me.
Pope Francis stressed this during his General Audience, this Wednesday, May 20th, 2020, in his papal library, in the midst of the pandemic of coronavirus worldwide, as he focused on prayer, specifically on the prayer of Abraham.
In his remarks, Francis exhorted faithful to learn from Abraham’s example “how to pray with faith,” namely how “to listen, to journey, to converse and even argue with God, but always prepared to welcome the word and put it into practice.”
In the life of our “father in faith”, we see a new way of relating to God. Abraham hears the voice of God and trusts in his word and promises.
“In obedience to the Divine Word,” Abraham, the Jesuit Pope pointed out, leaves his former life behind to journey wherever God leads him, even to the ultimate test of being asked to sacrifice his own son, Isaac.
Being so faithful to God, Francis said Abraham becomes a member of God’s family, “capable even of arguing with him, but always faithful.”
Abraham’s obedience to the Word, the Pope observed, marks a radically new step in the religious development of man.
Reflecting on how we have a personal call to live one’s life in fulfilment of God’s promises, Francis says: “The God of Abraham, then, becomes “my God”, the Lord of my own history who guides my steps and never abandons me.”
A few weeks ago the Pontiff began a new series of catecheses on prayer, and last week reflected on the mystery of creation.
Greeting the Italian-speaking faithful, Francis recalled that the upcoming feast of the Holy Trinity “brings us back to the mystery of the intimate life of the One and Triune God, the center of the Christian faith and stimulates us to find our comfort and inner peace in the love of God.”
Addressing elderly, young people, the sick and newlyweds, the Pope gave words of comfort.
“Trust in the Holy Spirit, ‘who is Lord and gives life’ and be open to his love so you can transform your life, your families and your communities.” He then gave them his blessing.
Here is the Vatican-provided English summary of today’s General Audience:
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Speaker:
Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our continuing catechesis on prayer, we now consider the prayer of Abraham. In the life of our “father in faith”, we see a new way of relating to God. Abraham hears the voice of God and trusts in his word and promises. In obedience to the divine word, he leaves his former life behind to journey wherever God leads him, even to the ultimate test of being asked to sacrifice his own son, Isaac. Through such fidelity, he becomes a member of God’s family, capable even of arguing with him, but always faithful. Abraham’s obedience to the word marks a radically new step in the religious development of man. From now on, the life of believers is seen in terms of vocation, a personal call to live one’s life in fulfilment of God’s promises. The God of Abraham, then, becomes “my God”, the Lord of my own history who guides my steps and never abandons me. May we learn from Abraham’s example how to pray with faith: to listen, to journey, to converse and even argue with God, but always prepared to welcome the word and put it into practice.
Speaker:
I greet the English-speaking faithful joining us through the media.
Dear brothers and sisters in the United States, I have witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest in your nation in these past days, following the tragic death of Mr George Floyd.
My friends, we cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life. At the same time, we have to recognize that “the violence of recent nights is self-destructive and self-defeating. Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost”.
Today I join the Church in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and in the entire United States, in praying for the repose of the soul of George Floyd and of all those others who have lost their lives as a result of the sin of racism. Let us pray for the consolation of their grieving families and friends and let us implore the national reconciliation and peace for which we yearn. May Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of America, intercede for all those who work for peace and justice in your land and throughout the world.
May God bless all of you and your families.
[Vatican-provided text]
