Binding and Release
- The Rev. Ann Fraser
- Jun 24
- 2 min read
He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. (Genesis 22:10-11)
Jesus said, “…whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:42)
What is it that God requires of us? In Genesis this week, we have the weighty story of the Akedah, the binding of Isaac. Abraham is asked to bind the son he longed for as a sacrifice — the son on whom it would seem rests God's promise to make a great nation of Abraham.
And alongside that, the cheerful ease of Matthew's gospel, in which Jesus tells his disciples that the simple act of sharing a cup of cold water can be celebrated as a heavenly merit.
I'm enjoying these two ideas of what it means to cooperate with God's will and join in fulfilling God's purposes. At times, I have felt like the call to be in relationship with God asks me to confront my attachment to hopes and expectations that otherwise feel entirely reasonable, or even righteous. Maybe you relate to feeling so fixed to an outcome that is justifiable, worthy, and urgent as to resist or fear being shown what it looks like to let go of that.
Or, to mirror the active, purposeful spirit of the binding, we might not merely let go but actively offer the thing we are grasping to God. Name the attachment even as we dread the thought of cutting it away.
And yet, aren't there also sweet, easy moments of feeling like we're participating in a loving flow? The cup of cold water takes not even a thought to share, and yet Jesus says such a thing is noted in heaven! The mutual giving and receiving of respect, care, and provision can come easily, and yet such a simple thing bears witness to God's dream for the world. Perhaps knowing ourselves to be sharing God's grace in this way helps us grow in courage and faithfulness when the sacrifice feels harder to bear.
May you give and receive, bind and be released.
Peace, Ann +
