In ordinary time the first reading alternates betweent the Old and New Testaments. Last week we read from St. Paul. Today we start the Book of Genesis, particularly the Abraham cycle which begins with chapter 12. Abraham is considered the father the three faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. With such an august father why have thoughout history these three faiths been in conflict? Crusades, Jihads, Pogroms, Inquisition, Intifada, Yom Kippur War. Just this week another war threatens to erupt. All of this despite the fact that the faifh of Abraham inspires all of these religious traditions. Abram (as he was known) was from Ur of the Chaldees in what is now Iraq. His father moved the family to what is now Turkey. Then following divine inspiration Abraham moved into the territory of the Holy Land which would later include Palestinians and Arabs. We must learn how to listen to one another to discover how much we have in common.
JUNE232025
By Church Staff
