Ornament: Ram
The Lord had promised to Abram and Sara that he would give them a son, and from him make descendants as countless as the stars. When Abraham & Sarah decided to put their faith in this promise, the Lord gave Abram and Sara new names. If you say the sound that "H" makes loudly, you end up breathing out very loudly. The new names that the Lord gave this couple were similar to their old ones, but names that reflected His own breath, the breath that created life on Earth: Abraham and Sarah.
Years later, God the Father did grant a son to Abraham ans Sarah, and they named him Isaac.
When Isaac was a young man, God spoke to Abraham. He told him that Abraham would have to make a sacrifice like the one he had made long ago - but this time instead of offering animals, Abraham would offer his own son, Isaac instead.
Immediately, Abraham made the preparations. Abraham loved his son, and did not understand how God could promise a great nation to him but also require that he take the life of his only son. But Abraham was faithful and trusted God, and so he went with Isaac to the mountain of Moriah. On the way there, Isaac himself asked to his father where they were going to get the lamb for the sacrifice, since they did not bring a lamb with them. Abraham answered "God himself will provide the lamb."
They arrived, and Abraham prepared the altar. Then tied up his son as well. He place Isaac on the altar and as he raised his knife to his only son, Abraham heard a voice from heaven:
“Do not lay your hand on the boy!. “Do not do the least thing to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you did not withhold from me your son, your only one.”
Abraham and Isaac rejoiced, and in thankfulness to God for his graciousness, Abraham offered a ram that he found caught in the bushes to the Lord instead of his son.
Reflection & Connection: God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac to test Abraham's faithfulness, but he also did it to demonstrate to us how he, the Lord, would keep his promise to make Abraham the father of nations. This story of Abraham and Isaac's sacrifice is very similar to the story of Jesus. Abraham is a loving father who is willing to give up the life of his only son. Isaac, who is probably much stronger than his elderly father at this age can see clearly what is about to happen to him - especially when Abraham lays him on the table. Isaac, just like Jesus, was willing to make the sacrifice that the Lord asked of him. Also, in the end Abraham made a substitute sacrifice of the ram, just as Jesus is a substitute sacrifice for each one of us.
Prayer: Jesus we ask that you would be with us now as we prepare to receive you at Christmas. Please make our hearts as selfless and trusting as the hearts of Abraham and Isaac. Thank you for the love and protection that you have always given us.
Conclude with your favorite family prayer or an Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory Be.
Q What kinds of sacrifices do we find hard to make for others? What can we do to be as faithful as Abraham and Isaac when we need to give up something?
Q Parents - The Lord knows that we love our children. Sometimes in our day to day duties we put our children before anything else. In what ways do we need to put God the Father before everything else?
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