For you are our Father, though Abraham doesn’t know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, LORD, are our Father. Our Redeemer from everlasting is your name.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 16. Abraham, and so forth That is, Abraham will not now acknowledge us for his children, by reason of our degeneracy; but thou, O Lord, art our true father and our redeemer, and no other can be called our parent in comparison with thee. Challoner.—Abraham is not able to save us. Calmet.—The patriarchs may justly disregard us, as degenerate children; yet we hope in God’s mercies. Thus S. Jerom, and so forth explain the passage, which does not favour the errors of Vigilantius and of Luther, who maintain that the saints departed do not know what passes in this world. Saint Augustine (Cura xv.) shews the contrary, from the example of Lazarus, Luke 16. They know each other, though they had not lived together, (Saint Gregory Dial. iv. 33.) and beheld in the light of God what regards their clients. Saint Augustine de Civ. Dei. xxii. 29. We cannot decide how the martyrs do help those whom it is certain they assist. Saint Augustine cura xvi. c. Faust. xx. 21. Saint Jerome c. Vigil. Saint Gregory 3 ep. 30. and 7 ep. 126. and so forth Worthington.