Isaac sojourneth in Gerara, where God reneweth to him the promise made to Abraham. King Abimelech maketh league with him.
“And sojourn in it, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee: for to thee and to thy seed I will give all these countries, to fulfill the oath which I swore to Abraham thy father.” (Genesis 26:3)
Those who walk in the Lord, keeping his word, are blessed in their trust of him.
“What could be more blessed than this good man in receiving such a wonderful promise from God, ‘I will be with you and bless you’?” (4) -St. John Chrysostom
Discussion: God is truly with us, as he said to be with Issac, afterward sending Emmanuel (“God with us”) and his presence in the Holy Eucharist, thereafter. We have the hope of eternal life and blessing. How can we show God honor and gratitude for his great love and care for us?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church 2088:
The first commandment requires us to nourish and protect our faith with prudence and vigilance, and to reject everything that is opposed to it.
“And I will multiply thy seed like the stars of heaven: and I will give to thy posterity all these countries: and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 26:4)
Strive to obtain virtue that obtains God’s favor and care.
“Then he teaches Isaac what it was he promised and the things about which God had given him confirmation. ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven.’ This, you remember, he had said to the patriarch as well, that his descendants would be so numerous as to be compared with the stars and the sand: ‘I will give all this land to your descendants,’ he said, ‘and in your descendants will all the nations of the earth be blessed.’ Hence the promises made to him I will fulfill in you, ‘for the reason that your father Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my commands, my judgments and my laws.’” (4) -St. John Chrysostom
You need to hold on to two virtues: kindness toward your neighbor and humility towards GOD.”
-St. Padre Pio
Being children of the promise and the light, whereby which the world is blessed.
“Here are God’s words to Isaac: ‘In your seed shall all the nations be blessed.’ And to Jacob: ‘In you and in your seed all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed.’ But God does not address this blessing to Esau, or to Reuben or to any other but only to them from whom Christ was to come through the Virgin Mary in accordance with the divine plan of our redemption.” (4) -St. Justin Martyr
“Because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my precepts and commandments, and observed my ceremonies and laws.” (Genesis 26:5)
Obedience is the virtue that gave Abraham his righteousness and was pleasing to God.
“They who, by a generous effort, make up their minds to obey, acquire great merit; for obedience by its sacrifices resembles martyrdom.” -St. Ignatius of Loyola
In the Letter to the Hebrews, St. Paul says “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, Lo, I have come to do your will, O God.” (Hebrews 10:8-9)
The children of the promise rejoice in joy, cheerfulness and submission to God.
The king is Christ, looking down from above on our rejoicing and ‘peering through the door,’ as Scripture says, on our gratitude and benediction that works in us joy and cheerfulness with submission.” (4) -St. Clement
“The true way to advance in holy virtues, is to persevere in a holy cheerfulness.”
-St. Phillip Neri
Women's Prayer Group In Christ 