Daily Readings - Thu Mar 21 2024
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 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.