The promise between God and Abraham reflects God’s relationship with all of His people, which includes the Church, and through the Church to each one of us.
Before we set out for that Lenten journey, though, we meet with God on many mountains with Elijah and Moses, and through the same number of valleys with them as well.
Moses cannot do what needs to be done for Israel much less for himself. We need a prophet greater than Moses, since even Moses needs a savior for himself.
In Epiphany, we witness this man and the miracles and ask: “Who is He?” Subsequently, in wonder and awe we might reply together with our Jonah reading: “Who knows?”
Indeed, in Samuel the Lord has drawn near as the words and actions of this unexpected prophet help us listen carefully to the voice of God in His rare Word.
How would you respond in trust to the God who is with us? This is a perfect line of thinking on Christmas Eve as we behold the coming of Christ the King as the babe of Bethlehem who is our Emmanuel.