I have read and heard the story of Abraham and Issac many times. I have told it many times. But just this evening at the Easter Vigil (NO) did I notice how many similarities there are between Isaac and Jesus Our Lord. Perhaps you haven't noticed them all. I will outline a few.
GENESIS 22:1-18
After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love [And behold a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased (Matthew 3:17 DRA)], and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey [Jesus on Palm Sunday rode into Jerusalem on a donkey], and took two of his young men [like the two thieves crucified alongside Jesus] with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back [Jesus and His disciples worshiped the day before, as it was the Pasch] to you." Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" [reminds me of Jesus calling out, "My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me. Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt" (Matthew 26:39 DRA)] And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together [Like Jesus and Simon of Cyrene]. When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood [just as Jesus was laid on the altar of the wood of the cross to be nailed thereto]. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son [God sacrificed His Son to appease the wrath that was due to us]. So Abraham called that place "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided." The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven,and said, "By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son,I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring [side note- the offspring that is being referred to does not necessarily mean biological offspring. As we hear in Eucharistic Prayer One, "As You were pleased to accept the gift of your servant Abel the Just, the sacrifice of Abraham our father in Faith..."] shall possess the gate of their enemies,and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves [redemption from their sins], because you have obeyed my voice."
So. How awesome was that!?
I feel like my mind and ears were opened to hear that today. It was truly amazing to realize the similarities! I even found some more just now as I was organizing that!
Laudetur Iesus Christus
In Saecula Saeculorum
AMEN
PAX
~SSWW
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