As we go through the genealogies of Jesus Christ in preparation for his birth, Abraham's faith is brought to our attention to remind us how much faith he had.
He knew God could keep his promises, but didn't know how God was going to bring salvation to the world through his descendants when he was already 100 years old!
Fr John Brian talks about this faith and about how much of God's promises we can trust even as we do not know how they will be fulfilled.
And how we can be more like Abraham, as St Paul describes him in the Epistle to the Romans chapter 4 - "he that was hopeless trusted in hope."
So at the longest night of the year, we trust the summer sun will return. At this time when trees have bare branches in the cold winds, we have hope in the spring to come.
This sermon uses and refers to scripture readings appointed by the Syrian Malankara calendar and was given on Sunday, December 18, 2011 by Fr. John-Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.
"Called to Divine Nature" is the theme of an open and free mini-retreat in Madison, January 21, 2012 hosted by Holy Transfiguration Mission. Pre-registration by email or voicemail by January 8 is encouraged.
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