Daily Readings - Thu Mar 22 2018
First Reading - Genesis 17.3-9
Genesis
3And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,4As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.5Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.6And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.7And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.8And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.9And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
Gospel - John 8.51-59
John
51Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.52Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.53Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?54Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:55Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.57Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.59Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound moments of divine promise and identity. The first reading from Genesis recounts God’s covenant with Abram, renaming him Abraham, promising numerous descendants, and granting the land of Canaan. This marks the beginning of God’s covenant with His chosen people. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of eternal life through keeping His word, leading to a contentious exchange where He asserts His existence before Abraham, highlighting His divine nature.
Both readings revolve around covenants and divine promises. Genesis establishes a physical covenant with Abraham, while John presents a spiritual covenant through Jesus. This progression from Old to New Testament underscores the fulfillment of God’s promises, emphasizing that faith in Jesus transcends physical heritage, offering eternal life.
In our lives, these readings remind us to trust in God’s promises, just as Abraham did. Our faith should guide us to live according to Jesus’ teachings, nurturing a deep spiritual life. The moral lesson is clear: our identity and purpose stem from God, calling us to faithful living and trust in His eternal promises.