ISHMAEL

PRAYER MOMENT      (Note: Much load shedding at the moment. This may be late in appearing!) 

Wednesday 1 July  2015

ISHMAEL

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “What is wrong, Hagar?” the angel of God asked, “Do not be afraid, for God has heard the boy’s cry where he lives. Come, pick up the boy and hold him safe, for I will make him into great nation.” (Genesis  21:8-20)

Reflection. The persisitent mention of Ishmael is curious. One might expect him to be forgotten once Isaac appears. But Hagar and her child Ishamael keep appearing until the boy grows up and becomes the father of twelve chiefs. It is as though the writers are conscious of the Arab world that surrounds Israel and they want to acknowledge them even if the promise comes through Isaac. We often recall how Abraham is the common ancestor of Jews, Christians and Muslims but, regretfully, what divides us has always dominated over what unites us. In the stressful present we can hold on to the vision of a future when we may come to celebrate Abraham together and listen to what God calls us to as his people.

Prayer. Lord, help us to open our hearts to our brothers and sisters of Abraham’s faith and show us the way to live together as sisters and brothers. Amen.

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