Daily Readings - Thu Apr 10 2025
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 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.