The
Patriarchs
Lesson 4
Abraham & Sarah
• Arrived Canaan – the
land God had
promised them.
• They were old
• God gave them Son –
Isaac – had two sons
Jacob
• Younger son
• God named
Israel
JACOB/ISRAEL
• 12 sons
• Joseph was his favorite (His
brothers were jealous)
• Joseph was sold as a slave
in Egypt
The Call of Abraham
Genesis 12:1-3
Now the Lord said to Abraham, ‘Go from your
country and your kindred and your father’s
house to the land that I will show you. I will
make of you a great nation, and I will bless you,
and make your name great, so that you will be a
blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and
the one who curses you I will curse; and in you
all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
Deepening the message
• It is part of God’s plan to heal our
broken relationship with Him and with
one another.
• This what salvation history is all
about.
• Book of Genesis – God called Abraham
so through him, God could initiate His
plan to save us.
Deepening the message
• Patriarchs (Old Testament)
– special people with
distinct responsibilities
whom God used to
establish the nation of
Israel.
Deepening the message
• Abraham – the most well-
known of the biblical
patriarchs – from him all
Israelites are descended.
Deepening the message
• “the father of many nations”
(Gen. 17:4) – covenant with
God.
• God changed Abram’s name to
Abraham – “father of a
multitude”
Call of Abraham
• Abraham – venerated father
- father of a multitude
• Sarai & Sarah – means princess
• By changing the names of Abram
and Sarai, God indicated great
changes in their lives.
• A name change when ccoming
from God, is a special sign of
being chosen
• Jacob become Israel - one who
contends with God (Gn. 32:39)
• Simon becomes Peter – the rock
(Mt. 16:18)
Call of Abraham
• Abraham – chose by God to build
his nation.
- “Father of faith” – first to have
faith in God, first to trust God,
what God told him would come to
be – name given by the Jews in the
Old Testament
Call of Abraham
• “I have made you the father of
many nations” – in the presence
of the God in whom he believed,
who gives life to the dead and
call into existence the things that
do not exist. (Romans 4:16-17)
Call of Abraham
• He was put into test – offered his
son Isaac
• “Through Isaac shall your
descendants be named. (Heb.
11:17-19)
The Promised Land
• God promises land, countless
decendants, blessings of power
and greatness, and a son who
would have kings for his
descendants.
The Promised Land
• the promises seems unattainable
to Abraham – a mere shepherd
and is already old with an ewual
old wife
The Promised Land
• Abraham believes in God’s
promises.
Covenant with God
1. God would make Abraham’s descendants a
great nation
2. God would allow bless Abraham materially
and make his name great.
3. God would protect Abraham by blessing
those that blessed him and cursing those
that opposed Abraham.
4. God would bless all the families of the
earth through Abraham.
The Church says…
•FAITH
– “Believing in
God.”
The Church says…
•CHRISTIAN Faith
– “Believing in the God
revealed by Jesus Christ.”
The Church says…
• CATHOLIC FAITH
– “Believing that Christ
reveals God to us in and through
the CHRISTIAN Catholic Church,
the body of Christ, united in the
Holy Spirit.”
The Church says…
• FAITH
– our personal response
as “dosciples of Christ” of
accepting him “as Lord and
Savior.”
The Church says…
• FAITH
– “It is our ‘Please come
in! to Christ who stands at
the door and knocks (Rv
3:20)” (PCP II 64)
FAITH IN HUMAN RELATIONS:
• We show our faith when
we accept the words of
others. (PANINIWALA)
FAITH IN HUMAN RELATIONS:
• We show our faith when
we readily obey the
directions of those over
us. (PAGSUNOD)
FAITH IN HUMAN RELATIONS:
• We show our faith when
we entrust our welfare to
others, even to strangers.
(PAGTITIWALA)
FAITH IN HUMAN RELATIONS:
• It is impossible to live
without faith! Faith, as a
human reality, is central
to our lives.
FAITH IN GOD:
• As our total response to
God’s revelation: “It is to
know, to love, to follow
Christ in the Church he
founded” (PCP II 36)
FAITH IN GOD:
• As a Theological virtue: Faith is
our personal knowledge of
God in Christ, expressed in
particular beliefs in specific
truths by which we adhere to
Christ.
• Faith is personal
knowledge of Christ, who
is our truth.
• Faith is our whole life in
Christ.
Living Message:
• Through their covenant a
reciprocal friendship between
God and Abraham.
• We can have similar frienship
with God by being friends with
the people aroud us.
Living Message:
• Friendship-or faith- involves
many risks and sacrifices.
• But there are also rewards.
• By being faithful to our friends
and family we learn what it is
to be faithful to God.
Living Message:
1. Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you (Mt. 5:44).
2. Treat others the way you would
have them treat you (Mt. 7:12).
3. Hear My Words and put them into
practice (Mt. 7: 24)
4. Pray frequently and sincerely (Mt.
6:5)
Living Message:
• Virgin Mary – “perfect icon of
faith” – believed that nothing is
impossible for God, and thus
made it possible for the Word to
come to dwell among mankind.
Living Message:
• Mary – model of faith
“By faith, Mary accepted the
Angel’s word and believed the
message that was to become the
Mother of God in the obedience of
her devotion (Lk 1:38)
Mary’s faith based on the Bible
• By faith, Mary accepted the
Angel’s word and believed the
message that was to become the
Mother of God in the obedience
of her devotion. (cf. Lk 1:38)
Mary’s faith based on the Bible
• Visiting Elizabeth, she raised her
hymn of praise to the Most High
for the marvels He worked in
those who trust Him. (cf. Lk 1:46-
55)
Mary’s faith based on the Bible
• With joy and trepidation she gave
birth to her only son keeping her
virginity intact. (cf. Lk 2:6-7)
Mary’s faith based on the Bible
• Trusting in Joseph, her husband,
she took Jesus to Egypt to save
him from Herod’s persecution.
(cf. Mt 2:13-15)
Mary’s faith based on the Bible
• With same faith, she followed the
Lord in His preaching and
remained with him all the way to
Golgotha. (cf Jn 19:25-27)
Mary’s faith based on the Bible
• By faith, Mary tasted the fruits of
Jesus’ resurrection, and treasuring
every memory of her heart. ( cf Lk
2:19, 51), she passed them on to
the Tweve assembled with her in
the Upper Room to receive the Holy
Spirit (cf Acts 1:14; 2:1-4).
Mary’s faith based on the Bible
• Our Lady lived out her faith amid
a fully human life, that of an
ordinary woman.
