Ornament - Constellation of Stars
Materials - Gold foil star garland
He took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the start - if indeed you can count them." Then He said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
Genesis 15:5
Read Genesis 12:1-7;15:1-6;17:1-9
-Saint Kosmas Aitolos +1779
God 'tested Abraham' (Gn 22:1-14), that is, God afflicted him for his own benefit, not in order to
learn what kind of man Abraham was- for He knew him, since He knows all things before they come
into existence- but in order to provide him with opportunities for showing perfect faith.
-St. Gregory Nazianzen
Abraham, great Patriarch though he was, was justified by faith, and offered a strange victim (Gen
28:2), the type of the Great Sacrifice. Yet he saw not God as God, but gave Him food as a man (Gen.
18:2). He was approved because he worshiped as far as he comprehended.
1 Peter 3:1-11
From the Prologue from Ohrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich, December 10
I … am but dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27).
These are the words that the righteous Abraham spoke of himself. Brethren, ridiculous are those
people who pride themselves on their association with worldly princes and noblemen and begin to
think highly of themselves. Abraham was found worthy to converse with the Eternal and Almighty
King. Nevertheless, he remained unwavering in his humility, calling himself dust and ashes. Who was
this Abraham, that he was found worthy of so much of God's favor in his lifetime and praise after his
death, from the Apostle (Galatians 3, Hebrews 11), and even from the Lord Christ Himself (Luke
16:22, John 8:39)? He was a peasant who possessed all the virtues, living always according to the Law
of God, a man with a firm faith in God, a lover of justice, hospitable, compassionate, courageous,
obedient, pure and humble. However, Abraham is especially glorified for his faith, a powerful faith.
Abraham was one hundred years old when God told him that his wife, barren until then, would bear a
son, and he believed. And even before Sarah had given birth to Isaac, God said to Abraham: I will make
thy seed as the dust of the earth (Genesis 13:16). Abraham believed and doubted not. And when an only
son was born to Abraham, God commanded him, as a test, to offer his only son as a sacrifice. Abraham
was prepared to do this, had God not turned him from it at the last moment. How complete was this
wonderful man's faith and obedience to God! Therefore God blessed him and made him glorious on
earth and in heaven. Brethren, blessed are they who, without hesitation, believe in God and fulfill His
holy commandments. The blessing of God will accompany them in both worlds.
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