The first reading for our liturgy today comes from the Book of Genesis, chapter twenty-two. Earlier this year during Lent, we heard this story in an abbreviated form. Today’s reading includes the brief comments that Isaac makes to his father. Including his comments reminds us that this is a story that is about Isaac as well as about Abraham.
Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. The fact that he is with his father in this story indicates that he has reached the age of puberty. So we know that he is at least thirteen or fourteen years old. While the story illustrates Abraham’s obedience when God makes this rather strange request to sacrifice his son, we also must remember that Isaac could easily have overpowered his very elderly father and escaped had he wanted to do so. However, even though his father is old, the young man allows his father to bind his hands and feet and to place him on the altar of sacrifice. Not only does Abraham obey God, but Isaac obeys his father.
We all realize that this story is proleptic and points us to the story of God’s willingness to sacrifice His beloved Son for the sake of our sins. Jesus obeys his Father’s will and does so quite willingly, even though the Gospels relate that he prays for God to “take this cup away.” Isaac obeys his father’s will, after briefly questioning his father, allows himself to be bound and placed on the altar. Abraham is a type for God. Isaac is a type for Jesus.
Both the example of Isaac and the example of Jesus illustrate that our lives are not about ourselves. The old catechism question comes to mind whenever I read this story: “Why did God make me?” The answer is revealing: “God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven.” Our lives are about God and our neighbor as we strive to fulfill the two great commandments: “Love God. Love your neighbor.” Both Isaac’s willingness to sacrifice his life and Jesus’ willingness to die for our sins point to the fact that our lives are about others. CUSANS bear the cross of chronic illness or disability in order to know, love and serve God and to participate in the redemption of all humankind by uniting our sufferings to those of our crucified Savior.
Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M.