Daily Readings - Thu Apr 02 2020
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of God’s promises and our relationship with Him. In the first reading from Genesis, we hear the story of Abram, whom God renames Abraham, promising to make him the father of many nations. This passage is a pivotal moment in the story of salvation, marking the establishment of the covenant between God and Abraham. God’s promise to Abraham is not just about land or descendants but about a perpetual covenant that will extend to his offspring and shape the course of human history. This covenant is a reminder of God’s faithfulness and His desire to be in relationship with His people.
In the Gospel, Jesus engages in a contentious dialogue with the Jews, who question His claim that keeping His word leads to eternal life. They challenge Him, referencing the patriarch Abraham and the prophets who have died, implying that Jesus’ claims surpass even their legacy. Jesus responds by asserting His divine identity, stating that He existed before Abraham and that Abraham rejoiced to see His day. This exchange underscores Jesus’ role as the fulfillment of God’s promises, including those made to Abraham. Jesus is not just a prophet or a teacher but the very source of eternal life, and His words carry the weight of divine authority.
These readings remind us that God’s promises are not limited by time or circumstance. Abraham’s faith in God’s covenant and Jesus’ assertion of His divine identity both point to the enduring nature of God’s love and truth. In our daily lives, we are called to trust in God’s promises, even when they seem impossible or when we face doubt or opposition. Like Abraham, we are invited to walk in faith, believing that God’s plan for us is greater than we can imagine. And like the Jews in the Gospel, we are challenged to recognize Jesus as the source of eternal life and to keep His word. May we, like Abraham, rejoice in the day of the Lord and may we, like Jesus, remain steadfast in our commitment to the Father’s will.