His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains the call of our father Abraham and how it became a model of faith, obedience, and sacred migration, and presents the meanings of the call, its wisdom, Abraham’s virtues, and their spiritual and educational impact on the Church.

🔹 Abraham’s importance

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III mentions the reason for Abraham’s status: he is the father of the heavenly religions, a symbol of pride for the Jews, an example of the righteous in church teaching, and his name is connected with the blessing of the nations and the lineage of the Lord Christ.

🔹 Time of the call and its beginnings

The call came to Abraham at the age of seventy-five. Before the call his life is not mentioned; his real life begins from his response to the divine call, as if the previous years are omitted in the context of the call.

🔹 Content of the call: go out and go

God said to Abraham: “Go out of your land… and go to the land that I will show you.” This is a call to leave the pagan environment and relationships that harm him, and to enter a journey with God to the place that the Lord chooses.

🔹 Characteristics of Abraham’s migration

The migration was by God’s command and will, without personal benefit, and without prior knowledge of the place, complete obedience to the unknown for the sake of worshiping the Lord and renouncing the world’s pleasures.

🔹 Spiritual implications of leaving and migration

The migration is a symbol of leaving sins and bad habits, dedicating time, seasons and effort to the Lord, and freeing oneself from worldly enjoyments for a better relationship with God; as in the life of monasticism and the Church.

🔹 God’s promise and blessing

The call was linked to a comprehensive promise: “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Abraham did not receive a blessing like this because of its comprehensiveness and depth; he became a source of blessing wherever he settled.

🔹 Abraham’s virtues

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III highlights Abraham’s virtues: obedience and surrender, extraordinary generosity, renunciation and leaving, chivalry and courage, purity of soul, spirit of worship and altar-building, respect for the priesthood, and intercession for others.

🔹 Conclusion and reflection

Abraham’s life is a spiritual school: a call that demands obedience, a migration that teaches renunciation, and a blessing that overflows to humanity. Every believer must respond to God’s call and leave what prevents meeting Him.

For better translation support, please contact the center.