Daily Readings - Thu Mar 22 2018
Genesis
3Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,4"As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.5No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.6I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.7I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.8The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God."9Then God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come.
John
51I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."52At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death.53Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"54Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.55Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.56Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."57"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"58"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"59At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
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.