Here is today's sermon, Proper 8, Year A, July 2, 2023. It is based on the story of Abraham being asked to sacrifice his son Isaac. I imagine that, instead of an angel telling Abraham that the sacrifice is not necessary, rather he goes ahead with the sacrifice. In his grief and reflection after the event, he is given the opportunity to grieve not only for his son, and his faith in the unique God of Israel, but also in the grief of those who follow after him in faith. He grieves not only for Isaac, but along with all of us who have lost parents, spouses, children, friends.