Daily Readings - Thu Apr 11 2019
Genesis
3Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him,4"Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.5No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.6I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.7And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.8And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God."9And God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.
John
51Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."52The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.'53Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?"54Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'55But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.56Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad."57So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"58Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."59So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound moments of divine revelation and covenant. The first reading from Genesis describes God’s establishment of a covenant with Abram, renaming him Abraham, promising him countless descendants, and granting him the land of Canaan. This moment marks a pivotal point in salvation history, as Abraham becomes the father of faith for nations. The Gospel from John presents Jesus in a heated dialogue with the Jews, where He asserts that keeping His word leads to eternal life and boldly claims to have existed before Abraham, culminating in a dramatic attempt on His life.
These readings, though separated by centuries, are deeply connected. Abraham’s covenant with God prefigures the ultimate covenant fulfilled in Christ. While Abraham trusted in God’s promises, Jesus reveals Himself as the fulfillment of those promises, emphasizing that His words are life-giving and eternal. The Jews’ skepticism and hostility toward Jesus mirror the challenges of faith faced by Abraham, who trusted in God’s plan despite uncertainty.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own faith and trust in God’s promises. Like Abraham, we are called to embrace God’s plan, even when it seems improbable. Jesus’ words remind us that true life comes from adhering to His teachings and recognizing His divine identity. As we navigate life’s uncertainties, let us draw strength from Abraham’s faith and Christ’s assurances, trusting that God’s promises endure. May we, like Abraham, rejoice in the fulfillment of God’s plan and live as children of the covenant, guided by Christ’s eternal word.