Brothers and sisters: It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith. For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us, as it is written, I have made you father of many nations. He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist. He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become the father of many nations, according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be. That is why it was credited to him as righteousness.
Abraham believed, 'hoping against hope' that he would become the father of many nations. His hope led him to a true faith in God: that God was who he said he was and that he would be faithful to the promises he had made to Abraham. St. Joseph also trusted God with his entire life and hoped against hope in God's faithfulness and provision when he accepted Mary into his home and agreed to be the father of Jesus. Both men did not exercise faith by denying their fears or weaknesses, but but recognizing them and submitting them to God. In what ways is God asking you to trust him more fully? In what areas have you given up hope in his promises and in his power and desire to do good things in your life?
CHALLENGE: Spend some time thinking about the courage and faithfulness of St. Joseph. Identify at least one area/struggle that you are having trouble trusting God with and say a prayer to St. Joseph, asking for his intercession and example of true faith and true hope
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