Daily Readings - Thu Apr 11 2019
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.
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 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.