Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 21, 2024
First Reading: Genesis 17.3-9
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.
Psalm 105
1Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!2Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!3Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!4Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!5Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,6O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones!7He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.8He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,9the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,10which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,11saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance."12When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it,13wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,14he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account,15saying, "Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!"16When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread,17he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.18His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron;19until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.20The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free;21he made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions,22to bind his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom.23Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.24And the LORD made his people very fruitful and made them stronger than their foes.25He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.26He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.27They performed his signs among them and miracles in the land of Ham.28He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they did not rebel against his words.29He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die.30Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings.31He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country.32He gave them hail for rain, and fiery lightning bolts through their land.33He struck down their vines and fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country.34He spoke, and the locusts came, young locusts without number,35which devoured all the vegetation in their land and ate up the fruit of their ground.36He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.37Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.38Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it.39He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night.40They asked, and he brought quail, and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.41He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river.42For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant.43So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing.44And he gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil,45that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the LORD!
Gospel: John 8.51-59
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 two profound moments of revelation and covenant. The first reading from Genesis recounts the moment when Abram, a man of deep faith, is renamed Abraham by God. This name change signifies a new identity and a divine promise: Abraham is to become the father of many nations, and God establishes an eternal covenant with him and his descendants. The reading emphasizes God’s faithfulness and the transformative power of His promises. The second reading from John’s Gospel presents a tense exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus declares that those who keep His word will never see death, a statement that provokes confusion and hostility. The Pharisees question Jesus’ claim, comparing it to the legacy of Abraham, who had long since passed away. Jesus responds by asserting His divine identity, stating that He existed even before Abraham was born, a bold declaration that underscores His eternal and divine nature.
These readings are deeply connected. In Genesis, God establishes a covenant with Abraham, promising to be his God and the God of his descendants. This covenant is rooted in faith and trust, as Abraham is called to believe in God’s promises despite the impossibility of his circumstances. In the Gospel, Jesus extends this covenant, revealing Himself as the fulfillment of God’s promises. His words challenge the Pharisees—and us—to recognize that true life comes not from earthly lineage or religious observance, but from a living relationship with God. Jesus’ statement, “Before Abraham was, I AM,” is a declaration of His divinity and His role as the ultimate source of life and truth.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on the nature of faith and identity. Like Abraham, we are called to trust in God’s promises, even when they seem impossible or unclear. Like the Pharisees, we may sometimes struggle to see the deeper truth behind Jesus’ words, but His message is clear: eternal life is found in keeping His word and living in communion with the Father. As we navigate the challenges of our own lives, let us remember that our true identity is rooted in God’s covenant love. May we, like Abraham, rejoice in the day of the Lord, and may we, like Jesus, live with the confidence of knowing that we are beloved children of God.