Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 21, 2024
First Reading: Genesis 17.3-9
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.
Psalm 105
1O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.2Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.3Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.4Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.5Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;6O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.7He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.8He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.9Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;10And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:11Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:12When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.13When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;14He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;15Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.16Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.17He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:18Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:19Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.20The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.21He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:22To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.23Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.24And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.25He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.26He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.27They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.28He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.29He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.30Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.31He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.32He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.33He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.34He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,35And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.36He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.37He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.38Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.39He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.40The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.41He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.42For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.43And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:44And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;45That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.
Gospel: John 8.51-59
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 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.