Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Lent 2 - Year C

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Remember - "belief" is not a head trip or an assent to a doctrine or creed. "Belief" is an action. Abram "lived as if" G*D's promise of descendants were true already. This living-as-if was Abram's righteousness.

It is very easy to get caught up in the ritual of slaughtered and divided animals. Do note that the G*D simply requested the presence of animals, creation's witnesses, just as later there will be traditions of Jesus born in a manger with the witness of animals. It was Abram who proceeded to sacrifice the animals and who would later be all too ready to sacrifice Isaac. It is difficult to get rid of our personal and cultural baggage and to mis-hear G*D - it's been going on since Adam.

Note also that G*D came into the picture again after Abram was exhausted from keeping the carrion cravers at bay. G*D came in the dark of night, in the evening of a next day.

I imagine that the smoking fire pot and flaming torch passed between the pieces of animals asking forgiveness, bringing restoration, and anticipating Ezekiel's valley of dry bones.

May you live-as-if into a new morning of a next day without carrying the burden of personal and cultural needs for sacrifice.