Daily Readings - Thu Apr 10 2025
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
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.