Daily Readings - Thu Apr 10 2025
Genesis
3Abram fell prone on his face4And God said to him: "I AM, and my covenant is with you, and you will be the father of many nations5No longer will your name be called Abram. But you will be called Abraham, for I have established you as the father of many nations6And I will cause you to increase very greatly, and I will set you among the nations, and kings will come forth from you7And I will establish my covenant between me and you, and with your offspring after you in their generations, by a perpetual covenant: to be God to you and to your offspring after you8And I will give to you and to your offspring, the land of your sojourn, all the land of Canaan, as an eternal possession, and I will be their God.9Again God said to Abraham: "And you therefore shall keep my covenant, and your offspring after you in their generations
John
51Amen, amen, I say to you, if anyone will have kept my word, he will not see death for eternity.52Therefore, the Jews said: "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham is dead, and the Prophets; and yet you say, ‘If anyone will have kept my word, he shall not taste death for eternity.53Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. So who do you make yourself to be?54Jesus responded: "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me. And you say about him that he is your God55And yet you have not known him. But I know him. And if I were to say that I do not know him, then I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and I keep his word56Abraham, your father, rejoiced that he might see my day; he saw it and was glad.57And so the Jews said to him, "You have not yet reached fifty years, and you have seen Abraham?58Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham was made, I am.59Therefore, they took up stones to cast at him. But Jesus hid himself, and he departed from the temple
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of covenant, identity, and the eternal life offered by God. In the first reading from Genesis, we witness a pivotal moment in the story of Abram, whom God renames Abraham, establishing a covenant that promises him countless descendants and the land of Canaan. This covenant is not just a contractual agreement but a divine pledge of relationship, rooted in God’s faithfulness and love. Abraham’s response is one of trust and obedience, setting the stage for the people of Israel’s identity as a chosen people.
In the Gospel, Jesus engages in a profound debate with the Jews, asserting that keeping His word leads to eternal life and that He existed even before Abraham. This exchange highlights the tension between the old covenant and the new revelation Jesus brings. While the Jews question Jesus’ identity and authority, He affirms His divine origin and mission, emphasizing that true life comes from knowing and following Him. Jesus’ statement, “Before Abraham was, I AM,” underscores His eternal nature and His role as the fulfillment of God’s promises.
These readings challenge us to reflect on our own relationship with God. Like Abraham, we are called to trust in God’s promises, even when they seem impossible. Like the Jews in the Gospel, we may struggle with doubts or questions about Jesus’ identity and mission. Yet, the heart of the message is clear: our true identity and purpose are found in living according to God’s word and trusting in His eternal plan. May we, like Abraham, rejoice in the day of the Lord and, like Jesus, keep God’s word in our hearts, knowing that eternal life is not something we will only experience after death but is a reality we can live into even now.